La Raza partners with high schoolers and L.A. Superior Court to create “Teen Court”

La Raza Law Students Association announced a new partnership with the Manual Arts High School’s Teen Court juvenile diversion program that will give first-time juvenile offenders an opportunity to appear before a jury of their peers and avoid establishing a permanent criminal record.

Modeled after other successful local diversion programs, local high school students will act as jurors, bailiffs, and translators in youthful offender’s cases. After hearing each case, the jurors deliberate and recommend a sentence for approval by program coordinator, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge David Sotelo. If the offender complies with the sentence during a six-month probationary period, no permanent criminal record is established.

According to first-year law student Oscar Medellin, the program brings law students in contact with the local legal community, while also strengthening La Raza’s commitment to remaining active in the surrounding neighborhoods.

“We’re excited La Raza can play a role in such an important neighborhood program,” said Medellin. “Hopefully, enthusiasm for the program will extend to the entire law school community.”

La Raza will host Teen Court on Wednesday, April 21, at 3 p.m. in the James H. Ackerman Courtroom, in conjunction with the students of Manual Arts High School, the Los Angeles County Probation Department, the Los Angeles Superior Court, and a team of O’Melveny & Myers attorneys. La Raza will provide the students with a tour of USC Law, as well as a mentor/mentee lunch and short presentation by Professor Thomas Griffith on the purposes of punishment.

If you are interested in participating or want more information, e-mail Miguel Espinoza at mtespino@usc.edu or Oscar Medellin at omedelli@usc.edu.