Olt pushes for youth court

Olt pushes for youth court

System would put peer pressure to work, DA says

Jan. 16, 2001

By Aspen C. Emmett
Journal Staff Writer

District Attorney Joe Olt is still settling into his new office but has wasted no time in getting the ball rolling on one of his first projects — the implementation of a youth court in Montezuma County.

Youth courts are an alternative option for juveniles in a community who are first-time, non-violent offenders in misdemeanor cases such as shoplifting, criminal mischief and possession of alcohol. The perpetrator is tried under a court system where kids play a major part in trying, judging and sentencing juvenile offenders.

"We can have kids judge kids, or at least play an integral part in their judgment," Olt said. "It’s a more interesting, more powerful — not more punishing, but more powerful means of punishment."

Although Olt’s idea has been in the works for some time, he hopes, with the recent rash of criminal mischief by local youths, the community will appreciate the concept much more.

"When you’re out here, breaking into the back of stores, and you’re 13 or 10 years old, we’ve got a problem," Olt said. "It’s indicative of not educating these kids well enough.

"I believe if we can get a functioning youth court, not only are we going to be further educating the kids involved in it (the criminal activity), we’re also going to be educating the kids that come across it (as part of the court), about government, and about the system."

Olt has put together a proposal for a youth court that outlines similar systems already in place throughout the country, and is hoping to recruit local youths, teachers, parents, law officials and citizens to help mold a system that would suit the community.

There are several different variations of youth courts, Olt said. Some have youth volunteers serving in the roles of defense and prosecuting attorneys, jurors, judges, court clerks and bailiffs. Others have a multiple-judge panel or an adult judge.

"Peer pressure is what gets kids into trouble in a lot of cases," Olt said. "So why can’t we use peer pressure to get them out of that trouble, or to show them that that is not the way to be? Kids know how to tell kids not to do something wrong."

He said that as well as using the courts as a peer-pressure deterrent for the perpetrators, the children in charge of running the court learn from the experience as well.

Olt said he has seen grade-school children operate courts, using scenarios such as "Goldilocks and the Three Bears" where Goldilocks is on trial for trespassing, vandalism and stealing.

"They’re wonderful at it," Olt said. "They come up with the harshest punishments I’ve ever seen.

"They’re also serious about it. They see the difference, that something has to be done if you do something wrong."

Olt said the cost for running youth courts varies as much as the ways in which they are run.

"The most expensive youth court that I’ve read about costs approximately $32,000 a year," Olt said.

"There are also some that run on as little as $500 a year. But it is due to the volunteers who are working it."

Olt said there are many aspects of the proposal that need to be ironed out, emphasizing the need for community input and further research.

"We need volunteers from society," Olt said. "We need to get together and put together a committee. It’s not going to happen in a week. I need people now who want to be involved in the process. There are all kinds of ideas out there. We have to put this together as a community."

Olt said he has presented the idea to the Women’s Republican Club and hopes to meet with District Judge Sharon Hansen in the near future.

"I’m not saying we’re going to reach every kid in the world," Olt said. "We’re always going to be putting some away. But for the ones who really just need an adjustment we need a youth court. I believe we can actually serve children better than we have served them on the legal end."

Olt said anyone interested in finding out more about the implementation of a local youth court can contact Rebecca Baldwin at the district attorney’s office at 565-3788.