Page 3 - Empowering Teens - Drug Free - 2014

2014
DRUG FREE 3

A court run by teens for teens

By CARI HACHMANN, Pamplin Media Group

F
ive years since its inception, the Four The Peer Court is designed to hold teens
Cities Peer Court, a restorative justice ages 12 -17 accountable for irst-time, low-level
program for youth in Gresham,
offenses. Instead of clogging up the juvenile justice
K
system, kids go to trial before a jury of other high Troutdale, Fairview and Wood Village, receives AR
school students.
positive feedback from teens and community CL
partners involved.
M
The court is a collaborative effort between JI
local police departments and overseen by :
Northwest Family Services.
TO
HO
According to Kim Harvey- P
OK
Trigoso, peer court project manager O
at Northwest Family Services, 290 TL
teens have gone through the court, Kim Harvey-Trigoso, peer court project manag- OU
er, says most teens who have been caught for a
which is in session twice a month
and serves between three to ive low-level crime prefer to go through peer court.
case per court.
re-offending, they go back into the hands of the
juvenile justice department.
K
About 74 percent of teens AR
who attended peer court in 2013 Peer court is only for irst-time offenders, L
C
completed the program, according to but since it is voluntary, teens don’t have to choose IM
the court’s annual report, compared the program.
: J
to 74 percent and 81 percent in 2012 TO
However, Harvey-Trigoso says, “Most HO
and 2011, respectively.
students prefer to go through peer court.” The P
participation rate in about 95 percent.
OK
Harvey-Trigoso said those O
kids who don’t complete the program Harvey-Trigoso said the process, which TL
have a higher likelihood of OU
(From left) Olivia Loftin, 17; Brandon Miller, 15; Lorenzo Ramos, 17; takes 2 to 3 months, is supposed to be “a brief
Riley Fay, 15; and Emily Cobb, 15, all serve as volunteers on the Four- re-offending.
intervention, a get-in, get-out” type of thing.
Cities Peer Court.
If a teen is caught
One of the most important aspects of the
(continued on next page)

We Support A Drug Free Workplace

& A Drug Free Community!

If you suspect that a friend or family member has a drug problem,

HERE ARE A FEW THINGS YOU CAN DO:

n SPEAK UP Talk to the person about your concerns, and offer your help and support, without being

judgmental. The earlier addiction is treated, the better. Don’t wait for your loved one to hit bottom!
Be prepared for excuses and denial by listing speciic examples of your loved one’s behavior that has you worried.

n TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
Don’t get so caught up in someone else’s drug problem that you
neglect your own needs. Make sure you have people you can talk to and lean on for support. And stay safe.

Don’t put yourself in dangerous situations.

n AVOID SELF-BLAME You can support a person with a substance abuse problem and encourage
treatment, but you can’t force an addict to change. You can’t control your loved one’s decisions. Let the person

accept responsibility for his or her actions, an essential step along the way to recovery for drug addiction.

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