Using Restorative Justice To Make A Difference

Photos courtesy of Maria Danisi
After completing a youth court bar exam, student attend an induction ceremony at town hall.

HYC alum Mark Menses, left, HYC Program Director Maria Danisi, center, HYC alum Rosie Nelan, right, celebrate at the HYC award ceremony last spring

By Lauren Peller
info@longislandergroup.com

Recent Harborfields High School grad Keylin Rivas has seen her peers struggle, pick themselves up and move on to become more active in their community.

She has witnessed this growth for the past three years as a member of the Huntington Youth Court, a town-sponsored program that places high schoolers in the shoes of attorneys, judges, jury members and bailiffs. This program applies restorative justice to young, first-time offenders.

“This program has helped me become a better person and leader,” said Rivas, who is fluent in both English and Spanish and serves as a translator during proceedings. “This program has also been a catalyst in forming my passion for the law.”

HYC was founded 17 years ago by Councilman Mark Cuthbertson, who established it as a means to prevent delinquent youth behavior through positive peer influence.

“Based on the idea of ‘justice for youth by youth,’ the program is funded by the town with support from the New York Bar Foundation,” Program Director Maria Danisi said.

The court is made up of local high school students who volunteer their time after completing training programs that prepare them for roles in the courtroom.

The youth offenders also live locally, have committed misdemeanor crimes and are age 16 or younger. They’re mandated by either their school or the Suffolk Department of Probation to stand trial before a jury of their peers. Sentences include community service assignments, counseling, mandatory peer discussion group participation and jury duty for another HYC case.

“If a youth offender shows a love for painting, we organize the community service requirement around painting areas in the town that need work,” Danisi said.

Currently, HYC works on cases assigned by Walt Whitman High School administrators, who refer student offenders.

“Since its beginning, HYC has inducted over 606 students to its membership and has heard more than 386 cases,” Danisi said. “Not only do HYC members gain insight into the legal system, but the offenders also learn through their community service as part of their sentence.”

Four year HYC member, Liam Sherer has served as an attorney on cases dealing with vandalism, possession of drugs and shoplifting.

“It is really interesting and rewarding to hear an offender’s story and evaluate the case,” said Sherer, who graduated from Half Hollow Hills High School East last month.

Each year, Sherer, along with all other HYC candidates, complete a 10-week training program that specifies the operation of youth court and the penal law. After completion of a youth court bar exam, the new HYC members are inducted during a ceremony hosted by Cuthbertson. Then, members perfect their courtroom skills through monthly mock trials that prepare them for the actual youth court proceedings.

This year’s 10-week training program begins Oct. 4, 4-6 p.m., at Huntington Town Hall and continues every Wednesday through mid-December.

As an alternative to the 10-week program, there will be a five-day, intensive training program held Aug. 21-25, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., at Town Hall. Those who participate in the program will be eligible to join HYC for the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year.

For more information, call 631-271-5547 or email info@huntingtonyouthcourt.org.