True or False: The offenses eligible for teen court include misdemeanors punishable by a fine-only or a violation of a penal ordinance of a political subdivision, including a traffic offense punishable by fine-only.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only felonies are eligible
• D. Only offenses by out-of-state defendants

Answer: (A)

Teen court handles minor offenses that carry only fines and do not involve confinement. This includes misdemeanors punishable by a fine alone and violations of penal ordinances of a city or political subdivision, such as traffic offenses punishable by fine only. The whole purpose is to give youths a chance to take responsibility in a peer-led, educational setting without entering the formal juvenile court for more serious crimes. Felonies are not eligible for teen court, and eligibility centers on the offense type rather than where the defendant lives. Traffic offenses are included only if they are punishable by a fine-only. So the statement is true.