OJJDP News @ a Glance - November/December 2006

First Lady Visits Youth Court

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"Prosecutor" Matt Bogdan delivers his opening statement in Youth Court as First Lady Laura Bush and other court attendees listen.

Photo provided by White House photographer, Sheelah Craighead.

On October 4, 2006, First Lady Laura Bush visited the Colonie (NY) Youth Court, where she watched students conduct a mock trial. The visit was part of the First Lady's role in leading the Helping America's Youth (HAY) Initiative. The OJJDP-funded Colonie program is one of more than 1,100 youth courts nationwide in which youth who have committed minor offenses are judged by their peers as an alternative to the traditional juvenile justice system.

About 13 youth court members and 20 adults attended the Colonie event. After watching the mock trial, Mrs. Bush asked the students about what brought them to the youth court and what they had learned there. She then commented: "It's a great way to try to help youth who have made a mistake that's not that big, but would be big on their records."

For additional information, visit the following Web sites:

Hay Initiative: www.helpingamericasyouth.gov
National Youth Court Center: www.youthcourt.net
Colonie Youth Court: www.colonie.org/police/YouthCourt/index.html

The Colonie Youth Court was featured in the July 18, 2005, issue of Time Magazine ("Jury of Their Peers"). This article was based in part on "A White House Visitor Makes a Full Afternoon" by Tim O'Brien, Times Union, October 5, 2006.