Page 4 - Empowering Teens - Drug Free - 2014

4 DRUG FREE
2014

A court run by teens for teens – continued

and former defendants, decide Johnnny’s sentence health issue.

(which can be anything from a 250 word essay on Every teen who comes through
how marijuana affects the brain to community the court is evaluated for those issues.
service or other options).
Those who need it are provided with
A licensed Oregon attorney, on volunteer referrals to get help.
time, presides over the court, and has last word.
Harvey-Trigoso said some kids
Judge Kristina LaMar, retired Multnomah who come through peer court haven’t

County Circuit Court judge of 25 years, volunteers been involved in school for up to a year.
RK
at the four-cities peer court.
Going through the program, she LA
C
She said, “I know what critical age group said, can help those teens get back on M
these young folks are in and how important it is they track and re-engaged in school.
JI
stay in school and stay out of drugs,” she said, O:
OT
“Because it has long-term repercussions.”
PH
Here’s the way the court works.
K
The idea is that if a teen is caught early OO
enough, minor crimes don’t escalate and kids don’t Say Johnny gets caught L
become a permanent ixture.
smoking a joint outside his school. The UT
school police oficer cites Johnny, then O
Mark Martinez, a Portland State University social work student
and Northwest Family intern, works one-on-one with teens coming asks the teen if he (or she) wants to
By teens, for teens.
through peer court.
participate in peer court or be referred
to the juvenile department. If Johnny
Reynolds High School student attorney
Lorenzo Ramos said the program works because “it chooses peer court, he must also get the
court is that it confronts some of the issues youth
‘OK’ from his parents, and the Multnomah County
is from the teens to the teens.”
may be dealing with that leads them to offend— Juvenile Justice Department must also approve his
But, the 17-year-old adds, “peer court is only substance abuse, mental health, lack of resources.
case for the referral.
effective if the defendant wants to be helped.”
“Even though we are getting low-level
offenses,” Harvey-Trigoso said, “a lot of these teens If the crime involved a victim, such as a low-
Ramos began volunteering at the four-cities are meeting (the mark) for substance abuse,” level assault, the victim must agree that the offender
peer court because he wants to be a laywer and he goes through the peer court.
believes this will get him closer to his goal.
meaning they use marijuana more than just
recreationally or have an undiagnosed mental
At the Four-Cities Peer Court,
In the Harvey-Trigoso
court room, stu-
says possession Can Chiropractic Help Me?
dent volunteers of less than an
alternate ounce of
between four “I’VE SEEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE JUST
marjiuana and • Auto Accidents MADE A MISTAKE AND THROUGH
roles — juror, bai- alcohol are the NEW PATIENT SPECIAL
liff, plaintiff most common THE PROGRAM, THEY CAN GET BACK
attorney and
• Back Pain
Receive an Initial Evaluation
ON THE RIGHT TRACK.”
crimes teens —BRANDON MILLER, 15, PEER
defense attorney.
are tried for, (T1015)
COURT STUDENT ATTORNEY FROM
among other • Neck Pain
$17
CENTENNIAL HIGH SCHOOL
Prior to
serving, students low-level for only
get coaching from crimes such as • Headaches
theft II and III,
real attorneys
and judges in a low rate assault
• Fibromyalgia
An Initial Evaluation includes:
ive-hour training session, where they learn how the
and trespassing (on Brief Consultation, Nerve Scan,
school property).
court room works.
• Sciatica
and Recommendations
Before Johnny
Youths who go through the peer court system (Evaluation with one set of x-rays, if necessary, only $47)
are required to serve as jurors for two future cases.
goes to court, he meets • Physiotherapy
with a social work * New patient special offers exclude Medicare, Contracted Insurance agreements, Workers Compensation and Auto
They also have to take a three-hour class on intern from Northwest Claims due to federal law.
a Saturday morning called, “Cause of Crime,” which • Massage Therapy
teaches kids how their actions consequently affect Family Services and his
parent or guardian.
the whole community.
He is assigned a
Mark Martinez is a social work student at defense attorney and Most Insurances Accepted
Portland State University and interns at the prosecuting attorney,
Northwest Family Peer Court.
Free Initial Consultation
17 Years Experience
who are high school
Interns like Martinez meet with the teens student volunteers.
www.greshamchiropractor.net
one-on-one on a weekly basis and talk with them 503-667-6744
Once the case is We’ve Moved
about getting help, staying motivated and/or setting heard, the jury, made
goals.
up of student volunteers
575 NE 2nd St., Gresham, OR 97030

facebook.com/DrRobertRamsey
454033.DF0314
(continued on next page)