Huntington Youth Court Inductees Take on the Legal System

The Huntington Youth Court, a program that educates Town of Huntington high school students about the legal system, inducted 24 new student members and welcomed back 50 returning members in a ceremony held at Huntington Town Hall on Dec. 9.

Program coordinator Maria Danisi works with these 74 high school volunteers, all of whom represent each high school in the Town of Huntington, who serve in a simulated courtroom proceeding to determine sentencing for first-time, nonviolent offenders. Most students hear cases on low-level misdemeanors such as shoplifting or vandalism.

“It is vital to instill the legal ramifications to first time youth offenders in such a unique criminal justice arena,” said Councilman Mark Cuthbertson, who created the Youth Court Program in 2000.

The students rotate in groups of 20 and perform as defending and prosecuting attorney, judge, bailiff and jury.

“Since the program’s inception, our Youth Court volunteers have heard 378 cases and they have handed out an average of 100 sanctions to youth offenders each school year – with a combined total of more than 400 volunteer hours for trials alone per year,” Cuthbertson said in a press release.

The jury may impose a sentence that includes community service, a written or verbal apology to the victim, written essays pertaining to the crime, counseling sessions, a jail tour, mandatory participation in a peer discussion group and mandatory jury duty.

In the 16 years of its operation, the program has inducted 582 Youth Court members to date.

“I would like to personally thank and commend Maria Georgiou, Maria Danisi and staff on behalf of the Youth Court’s Sixteenth Anniversary and I look forward to the continued success of this wonderful program,” Cuthbertson said.

For more information on the program, contact Maria Danisi at (631) 271-5547 or via e-mail to: youthcourt@optonline.net .

Image via Town of Huntington