How can the court help steer troubled young people away from gangs or further criminal activity?
Early identification of young people who are “at risk” is a key. Special work is done in our juvenile division to consider and to try to meet the needs of young offenders when entering a sentence or disposition. The court also tries to connect the juvenile and the juvenile’s family with resources that will help them address the underlying problems. We are also paying special attention to substance use and abuse among juveniles. We know education and treatment for adolescents is more effective when it is tailored to their developmental level. What are common mistakes judges make, and how can you avoid them? I think one of the most common mistakes we make is to assume that the court participants fully understand what is happening in their case. We must address legal issues and use legal terms and impose legal judgments, but we also have to remember that most people are not familiar with the court system and they need to know what is happening in language that they can understand. I now m
