Newark's Youth Court Hosts Delegation of Camden Youth
Mayor Cory A. Booker, Newark Municipal Court Chief Judge Richard E.A. Nunes, Newark Youth Court Director Evelyn Mejil, and Newark Community Solutions Project Director Jethro Antoine announced that the City of Newark’s Youth Court hosted Camden Mayor Dana Redd, Camden Municipal Court Chief Judge Stephen Burkett, and 35 youth from Camden’s anti-truancy program last night during a Youth Court training in Newark’s Municipal Court. During their visit, Mayor Redd, Chief Judge Burkett, and the Camden youth observed the Newark Youth Court members as they conducted a mock hearing of a fictional truancy case. The hearing was part of new Youth Court members’ 35-hour training.
“We must be a City that helps all of our children and must never turn our backs on those that stumble along the way. When kids get in trouble for the first time for minor offenses, we should use this opportunity to help them, not criminalize them. That is why we piloted New Jersey’s first youth court as an alternative to the traditional justice system that has engulfed far too many of our youth,” said Mayor Booker. “The success of our Youth Court is being seen in the fact that it is being studied and replicated by our sister City of Camden. I congratulate the entire Youth Court team on the success of this initiative.”
“Our Court was delighted to host all of these wonderful young minds this evening. It is great to see all of these youth empowered to do good things for other youth and their community,” said Judge Nunes.
“Mayor Redd and Chief Judge Burkett’s visit to the Newark Youth Court is a tremendous testament to the youth court model and its implementation here in Newark. Our teen members and staff are incredibly excited that their efforts to set norms of behavior for the community and link youth respondents to constructive services, before they head too far down a self-destructive path, has drawn the attention of our Camden neighbors. We look forward to having a sister youth court in Camden,” said Director Antoine, who oversees the Youth Court.
At the mock trial, Mayor Redd and the Camden delegation heard and saw the adjudication of a truancy case. After the “trial,” the Camden students asked questions of the Newark court members about the procedure they had just witnessed.
“This is a great opportunity for the youth of Camden to learn from their peers in the City of Newark about the importance of having a youth court and how such an activity can address issues like truancy in the City of Camden,” said Mayor Redd. “Many of the young people with me today are part of our ‘I Can End Truancy’ program, and took a pledge to work to end truancy as peer leaders. I am grateful to the City of Newark and Mayor Booker for providing this opportunity to the City of Camden. We are looking to replicate this youth court program in Camden. This is exciting.” She added that the City hopes to launch its pilot program by the end of 2011.
The Camden youth gave the session high marks. “They handled the case very well,” said Maria Medina, a Camden Creative Arts High School 10th grader. “They were all on task, organized, and having this court will be better for Camden. There will be less truancy, and kids will help each other out.”
Tayshawna Reevey, another Creative Arts sophomore, said, “I like the Newark program. Camden should do it, and I would want to serve on Camden’s youth court.”
The Newark Youth Court launched in the spring of 2008. The program is a partnership between the City of Newark, the non-profit Center for Court Innovation and is supported by the New Jersey State Bar Foundation. It is not a function of the Newark Municipal Court, but it is housed at the Court.
Marcilia Lamas, a Science Park High School senior, presided over the trial, and talked about the benefits the Youth Court program had for its participants. “You get better speaking skills and learn to speak and think on your feet. It makes you more open-minded,” she said.
Joshua Henry, another Newark Youth Court member, was pleased with his efforts. “We got to show that not only adults can do these things, but kids my age can help and be role models,” said the University High School 11th grader.
The Youth Court convenes twice a week to hear actual cases involving their peers as respondents in truancy and school disciplinary matters. After the hearing, in which the teen jurors question the young respondent to see if she acknowledges the consequences of her behavior and its impact on the community, Youth Court members deliberate and issue a restorative sanction that can include: referring the respondent to counseling, mentored community service or even a letter of apology or essay. The court has handled 126 cases in the last two years.
The Newark Municipal Court is the largest such court in the State of New Jersey, handling more than 500,000 cases each year. It rules on traffic, housing code enforcement, sanitation, quality-of-life, and minor criminal offenses. Under the Booker administration, the Municipal Court has moved to enhance customer service, improve its technology, and create new initiatives like a Community Court to take a holistic approach to addressing causes behind crime in the City of Newark.
For more information on any City of Newark municipal program or policy, contact the Non-Emergency Call Center at (973) 733-4311.
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