Youth Courts - Courier - Perth Amboy youths get taste of criminal justice system

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Published in the Courier News, Thursday, June 1, 2006

Youths get taste of criminal justice system
Perth Amboy program hopes to ward off poor decision-making among young people

By SUZANNE RUSSELL
Gannett New Jersey

PERTH AMBOY -- Acting as a defense attorney in Perth Amboy's new Youth Court, Nohely Puntiel, 18, argued her 15-year-old client is a good person who was in the wrong place at the wrong time when he got into a fight with another youngster.

Kafrin Serrata, 17, acting as the prosecutor, argued the 15-year-old boy should be sentenced to 40 hours of community service for his actions, particularly because he showed no remorse that the other youngster suffered a broken arm during the melee.

The 15-year-old boy testified at the Perth Amboy Municipal Court that he got into an argument at a city park after a youngster started to verbally insult him. The two boys fought. The teen said he never realized he had broken the other boy's arm.

After deliberating for several minutes last week, a jury of students sentenced the teen to 30 hours of community service, and ordered him to write letters of apology to the victim and the victim's parents, as well as his own mother. He was also required to participate in an anger-management program.

In addition, the teen will help decide the sentence for other minors facing minor offenses by participating for three months in Youth Court.

Perth Amboy's Youth Court is the first program in New Jersey in which young people sentence their peers for minor delinquent offenses and other problem behaviors. The program, sanctioned through the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, acts as the state's pilot site for the National Youth Court program, which is active in 48 states. Only New Jersey and Connecticut don't have a statewide program, officials said.

The program aims to deliver justice to first-time offenders in a way that promotes positive attitudes and reduces future delinquent episodes. Funded through a grant from the New Jersey Association on Correction, Youth Court tries to reach juveniles before they become repeat offenders.

Middlesex County Prosecutor Bruce Kaplan, who sat in on Thursday's court session, said he's in favor of keeping as many juveniles out of the state's juvenile-justice system as possible. He hopes the pilot Youth Court program will help children understand the consequences of their actions.

"Perth Amboy Youth Court enables young people to volunteer their time and help youth who commit crimes against the community. The program is designed to promote positive decision-making in youth and help prevent them from making poor decisions in the future, when the consequences will be more severe," Mayor Joseph Vas said. "In addition, the volunteers are able to participate in municipal professions and learn courtroom procedures."

Serrata said she volunteered for the program because she wants to pursue a career in law.

"It's an inside look at what to expect," said Serrata, adding that she's learned about the court system.

"I like to help people. I have a strong belief in self-action. Sometimes someone just need someone to guide them," she said.

The pilot program, which meets twice a week and hears two court cases each Thursday, is open to youth ages 10 to 17. Minors must admit to the charge in order to participate. Parental consent is also required.

Since February, when the program began, student volunteers have learned the rules of the court, including how to introduce evidence such as police reports, cross-examine a witness and function as a juror, according to Puntiel, a senior at Perth Amboy High School who may pursue law or psychology when she goes to college.

"It give you an opportunity to see what the court experience is all about and not have to go through the court experience. It's pretty accurate," Deputy police Chief E.J. McDonald said.

Typical sentences include a three-month term at Youth Court, in addition to five to 50 hours of community service, letters of apology, essays, restitution, anger management, counseling or participation in the Lifers Group Juvenile Awareness "Scared Straight" project.

"We haven't seen a problem with peer retaliation," McDonald said.

"And they (the offenders) are in the position later on when they can come back and become part of the jury," he said.

So far, 22 cases have been heard by 35 student volunteers.

"Before our first case, we did a mock trial," said Puntiel, adding the students began hearing actual cases in March. As part of the program, students review the cases they hear each week.

For Keeidy Morales, 17, a junior at Perth Amboy High School, Youth Court has taught her about leadership and how not to be a bad person.

"It keeps me out of trouble," said Morales, who served as a juror during the trial.

Hilary Napoleone-Williams, the New Jersey Association on Correction program director who also serves as judge for all the cases, said Youth Court is designed to deter future crime.

"Our goal is to tell them that what you do today affects you tomorrow and next year and the rest of your life," Napoleone-Williams said.

"Being in court can be a positive thing," he said.

While waiting for the jury's verdict during Thursday's session, Napoleone-Williams addressed the teen to be sentenced, reminding him that his actions will follow him.

"It's up to you to stop the circle of violence and walk away," he said. "Once you've raised your hand to another person, you've already failed."

http://www.c-n.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060601/NEWS01/606010352/1006

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