The following is an article that appeared in the Albuquerque Journal on February 24, 2009, and was written by Juan Carlos Rodriquez. The color newspaper photo shows a typical courtroom scene...nice wood paneling all around the courtroom; the judge sitting at the bench; the New Mexico state symbol behind the judge; the state and U.S. Flags; a tv off to the right and nice lighting hanging from the ceiling, etc.
A witness sits in the witness stand; the grandmother and grandchild (who is in trouble) are addressing the witness at the podium; and the jury made up of 12 teenagers make up the jury.
Isn't this a great idea? The setting of the court is in Valencia County, which is located just south of Albuquerque New Mexico (USA), which is New Mexico's largest city. (500,000 pop) In the article, the grandaughter got into trouble, and the caption for the color photo reads,
"A Jury of Her Peers" This is a court for first-time offenders and sub-title reads,
"Valencia County Offers Teen Court; Kids Are Reachable"
Article reads:
"After pleading guilty to assult charges that followed a fight with another girl after school, 14 year old Josette Russell faced some tough questioning during her sentencing.
"Do you think you did the right thing?" "What are your grades like?" "What punishment did you get at home?"
But, the questions didn't come from a judge. They were asked by 12 other teens sitting in the jury box...all of whom had once stood where the defendant was.
The unusual scene at the Los Lunas Magistrate Court on recent Webnesday, was part of the Teen Court program which Valencia County started in September (2008). The court is an option for certain juveniles who, generally, are first time offenders, facing charges ranging from drug possession; to shoplifting; to phone harrassment to assult and battery, etc.
Joseph Dorn, started the program shortly after coming on board as county juvenile administrator in June. 'I thought we had to do something for first-time offenders. The best option was a teen court.' Dorn said. 'The vast majority of these kids are reachable.'
After questioning Russell (the grandaughter) about the circumstances that brought her before them, the jurors left the courtroom to deliberate. They discussed everything from the severity of the crime...the other girl making fun of Russell's mom...to her court demeanor...unaceptable eye-rolling...the jury found.
The jury came back after 10 minutes of dileberations with their verdict and sentencing which would be; 50 hours of community service; a letter of apology to her grandmother, who was with her during her court appearance; and seven nights of jury dury.
One of the first kids to go through the program was Eli Sanchez, 15, who got caught shoplifting and had some marijuana on him. He went through the same thing Russell did, facing his peers and receiving a sentence. He completed his requirements, and is now a volunteer.
"It was scary! I didn't know what to expect." Sanchez said. "But I learned about the other kids, and I realized I'm not the only one who made a mistake."
Dorn said the "positive peer-pressure" jurors experience when they are responsible for sentencing others who may be in similar circumstances, helps keep them out of trouble. Since September (2008), the court has handled about 100 kids and only four have gotten in trouble again, Dorn said.
Dorn runs his program as part of his job, so there are no costs to the county. But, the New Mexico Teen Court Association, is asking lawmakers to add a dollar to court fees, charged in misdomeanor cases, so it can expand the program statewide.
Bernalillo County doesn't have one yet, but Dorn is working on that, and said he already has space reserved at the University of New Mexico Law Library for hearings.
Russell (the grandaughter) who took her sentencing stoically, said afterward, she thought it was fair, and she was looking forward to being on the other side in the future. 'It's going to be interesting,' she said.'"
End of Article; (Final comments)
Isn't this so cute...a ten minute dileberation on the little girl's sentence? Unaceptable eye-rolling? WOW! This will get you ten more hours of community service or a little torture! I sure don't want to go before THAT jury!
People should take note and expand this type of program all over the country. To see all those little young faces in that jury box was certainly something to behold. Kids can learn so much responsiblity by being given real assignments like this one! GREAT PROGRAM!
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