Youth peer court training at City Hall

By Calvin Hall

The Gresham Outlook, Oct 2, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009

The Four Cities Peer Court, which provides teenagers an opportunity to learn about the legal system, invites area youth to an orientation from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 5, at Fairview City Hall, 1300 N.E. Village St.

The program lets participants, ages 13 to 17, learn about the legal system, become a volunteer student attorney and help other teenagers who are in trouble with the law.

When a youth is cited for a first-time, low-level law violation in Fairview, Gresham, Troutdale and Wood Village, the officer will offer them the option to enter the Peer Court instead of the juvenile justice system. While in Peer Court, the youth is assigned to a volunteer student defense attorney and a student prosecuting attorney. Once the case is heard, the jury, also made up of youth, decides what type of accountability fits the law violation. The presiding judge, an adult attorney who is licensed in Oregon, maintains order, guides the process and oversees sentencing.

The orientation will be followed up with mock trial training from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, at Fairview City Hall. Participants can potentially earn school credit and letters of recommendation while learning about the law and helping the community.

For information, visit www.ggapp.org or call the Police Activities League at 503-823-0250.

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