In 'courtrooms,' truants are judged by their peers

Student jury hands down sentences for first-time offenders

By Chantal Lamers

They look like normal seventh- and eighth-graders. Girls wear pony tails and pleated skirts; boys wear green polos, and sport bleached blonde hair. But, when the school bell rings at 10:35 each Wednesday morning, these students make Judge Judy look like a real angel.

In its second year at Willow Glen Middle School, Lauren Maslyar's leadership class hands the role of jury, and prosecuting and defending attorneys to her 30-plus students during weekly sessions of Youth Attendance Court. Presiding judge is actual Deputy District Attorney of Santa Clara County, Lois Baer, who tells class cutters and truant students they are to behave while "on trial" in peer court.

During each session of peer court, students who consistently receive flunking grades and skip class, are sent to classroom 201 for a punishment deliberated by their peers.

It's just like real court. The judge gives the jury direction. The prosecutor tells the jury the crime and lists the potential punishment. The defending attorney defends. And the jury deliberates.

The jury of students hands down sentences such as community service, attending the Homework Center, Saturday school or detention. Some students are sentenced to restrictions on phone and television privileges or missing a school dance or sporting event. Most defendants are brought back for a follow-up session so the "court" can review the defendants' progress.

Peer courts have been popping up in schools across the country since the first one was established in Texas during the early '90s. Peer court appearances are usually offered as an alternative to many juveniles who commit first-offense misdemeanor crimes. Many peer courts boast a low percentage of repeat offenders.

But judging peers isn't as easy as it looks for these teens. Many jurors are judging peers they sit next to at the lunch table or spend afternoons with on the basketball court.

Some defendants come in and roll their eyes, say the jury of students, who are dressed in green school uniforms. Some, say the jury, change for the better.

"I think this is a good program," says eighth-grader Brian Garrotta. "Every school should have it--it makes a difference."

Most of Maslyar's students agree that they can't change everybody, but the ability to change even one person is a good feeling.

"I had a class with one of the kids that was in here," says seventh grader Mallory Stein. When Mallory noticed he wasn't doing his schoolwork, she kindly cautioned him to keep up, so he wouldn't have to return to court. "Then, he tried harder," she says.

Those defendants who manage to change make the jury proud. Most defendants are sentenced to the Homework Center three days a week until their grades average a C.

"I really think we influence the people who come in here," says seventh-grader Diana Schnabel. The juror says one "defendant" she knew really wanted to change--and did. "It made me feel special that we made an impact."

Their teacher, Maslyar, agrees it's hard for her students to judge those who don't take their court appearance seriously. "They do get discouraged when the kids don't make a difference," Maslyar says.

Since her students have become the local jury, Maslyar says they've increased their knowledge of the court system and feel rewarded when students manage to change. "They'll tell the students to get their act together," Maslyar says.

Acting as judge, Baer holds youth attendance court in her spare time. Since truancy has been a large focus in her department for the past five years, she thought she could make a difference before these students found themselves in front of a real judge and jury.

Baer admits that only a few of the defendants really turn themselves around after their peer court appearances, but not for lack of trying from the leadership students. "They're really rooting for the kids; the court wants them to succeed."

During the jury's deliberation over the defendant's punishment, Baer steps out of the court-classroom to have a chat with the defendant. "It's intensely sad that they have no goals," she says. "They're just kind of letting life happen to them. I don't know what it takes to make them care."

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