July 1 has come and gone and the Judiciary has decided to allot $5,000 in their 2010 budget for Kaua‘i Teen Court, allowing it to continue operation, although we must raise the remaining $55,000 from other sources to serve the
July 1 has come and gone and the Judiciary has decided to allot $5,000 in their 2010 budget for Kaua‘i Teen Court, allowing it to continue operation, although we must raise the remaining $55,000 from other sources to serve the 300 to 400 first-time misdemeanor/status offending youth on Kaua‘i annually.
In the last 10 days, the threat of closing Kaua‘i Teen Court has resulted in an outpouring of support from families of youth who have benefited from these services over the years. Additionally, letters of support were written by state and local officials including Sen. Gary Hooser, Reps. James Tokioka and Roland Sagum, Mayor Bernard Carvalho, and Kaua‘i County Council Chair Bill “Kaipo” Asing. We deeply appreciate everyone’s efforts to convey their support to our Judiciary for the Kaua‘i Teen Court program.
As I put together a budget to support our request for the remaining funding to other public and private entities and foundations, I am reminded of all the volunteer and in-kind support given to help Kaua‘i Teen Court operate. Eight volunteer per-diem judges rotate responsibility throughout the year for being the presiding judge at the regularly scheduled Teen Court hearings and Judge’s Chambers.
Kaua‘i Police Department personnel separate first arrests, forward them to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney for review, and report quarterly the number of youth completing Teen Court who have been re-arrested within a year.
The Office of the Mayor generously provides space for the twice-monthly court hearings using three conference rooms. A group of adult volunteers faithfully come twice monthly to help support the Teen Court process offering educational sessions prior to court, training youth jury members and facilitating consensus building during deliberation. Youth volunteers assume the court roles of bailiff, clerk, defense and prosecuting attorneys. These many volunteer hands provide an option for Kaua‘i’s youth to be appropriately diverted from the juvenile justice system by participating in a restorative youth-driven program to “make things right.”
Teen Court benefits include the quick response to youth arrests, scheduling the youth’s hearing within 30 days of receipt of the referral. Typically offenses committed by first offending youth may not get quick attention in our regular legal system, as a higher priority must be given to offenses of a more serious nature. Unfortunately, the longer the delay in a legal response to youth offenses, the less a youth will believe there will be any consequences to their behavior. The result can often be an escalation in a youth’s choices and behavior to more serious crimes, resulting in further out-of-control behavior.
Youth who participate in Kaua‘i Teen Court admit their guilt and agree to abide by the sentencing requirements assigned by a jury of their peers. Sentencing elements include serving as a Teen Court juror, community service, skill-building classes, counseling and repairing the harm, including apologies and restitution payment. Youth successfully completing their sentencing requirements will have no record of the offense. Participating in Kaua‘i Teen Court gives youth a chance to “make right” the offense against their victim and to make a clean start.
One youth who recently participated in Kaua‘i Teen Court writes, “Kaua‘i Teen Court has given me an amazing opportunity to fix my mistakes. It was a friendly wake-up call that got me back on track doing what is right. They provided classes … (and) made me realize it’s not just about me. Kaua‘i Teen Court did a lot for me so in return I shall “pay it forward” to help my community become an even better place.”
Another youth says, “It helped me a lot, to think before I do, because no matter what, we always have to face the consequences — (something) that I don’t like to deal with.”
Other youth comment: “The judge helped me with my problems and gave me other solutions to solving them.” And, “The judge helped me realize the bad decision I made and think about how it affected the other person.”
A parent says: “I think that everyone in our community can benefit from these services and it can be used to educate everyone.”
The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney and the Juvenile Services Branch of the Court are able to concentrate on the serious, repeat youth offender when diversion programs are in place in a community.
• Questions? Mary Navarro is executive director of Hale ‘Opio Kaua‘i Inc. A support group of adults on Kaua‘i has “stepped into the corner” for teens to answer questions and give support to youth and their families. E-mail questions and concerns facing youth and families today to LaVerne Bishop, program director of Hale ‘Opio, at lbishop@haleopio.org.
