Northern Humboldt Union School District teen court mimics a normal juvenile court proceeding with one major exception -- the 12 jurors, two attorneys, and the judge are all teenagers.

The student court is in its second year and is funded through a small portion of a roughly $870,000 three-year grant intended to decrease youth alcohol abuse, said Clover Schinke, coordinator of the teen court. Students who participate in the court program learn much about law and the consequences that may come with certain actions.

”We are a school-based, alternative justice program,” Schinke said.

NHUSD's student court is hoping to have more students involved from every school in the district, especially as jurors. Students who get into trouble in the district for a variety of reasons, such as cheating or other non-violent offenses, can opt to take part in the teen court with their parents' permission, Schinke said. It works in a similar fashion to the teen court in Eureka.

There are advantages for those who decide to face the court, including that the offense does not go in their school file. The consequences are also of a different caliber, generally going with community service, reality visits and other alternatives to the typical suspension.

The message is also different than those normally handed down from a school's administration.

”They're not as likely to listen to authority figures,” she said. “When they hear

Not all students who could participate decide to act as “respondents” in the court.

”They are the kind of kids that are a little bit open to say, 'Yes,'” Schinke said.

The students who choose to participate as respondents are also obligated to serve on the jury for a different case, so they can help others, Schinke said. All the students who participate gain a greater knowledge of the justice system and of their peers.

”The program is pretty empowering for a group that doesn't have much power,” she said.

In its first year, the teen court heard six cases and so far this year they have heard three. Schinke said they can take on more cases now that some of the “growing pains” of the program are being worked out with the district.

Some of the details of the program have been refined, such as what kinds of cases the teen court can take on, said District Superintendent Kenny Richards. Overall, the students who volunteered to take part in the proceedings have excelled.

”Anytime we can add additional niches for students where they can investigate, especially the law, is an educational experience for them,” Richards said.

After a somewhat slow start, Richards said they are finding the strengths and weaknesses of the program and should be able to perfect it. If another grant is available when the current grant money runs out, the district plans to reapply or find a similar one to continue helping the students.

”Everyone involved in the case is learning, not just the student who committed the offense,” Richards said.

Teens who act as the prosecuting and defense attorneys are helped by actual lawyers who volunteer their time to the program. Schinke said the Humboldt County District Attorney's Office greatly helped the program last year but a reduction in staff and a decrease in budget have forced many from that office to spend less time with the program.

District Attorney Paul Gallegos said when he volunteers, he talks with students about the basics of the legal system, such as the Bill of Rights and the separation of powers, and also specifics to a particular case.

”I try to explain things to kids, and to anyone, the philosophical things behind it,” he said.

The students always take the court and their responsibilities within it very seriously, he said. Often, he advises the judges on evidentiary rulings and other matters, but everyone strives to do their best in court.

”I'm always amazed at the kids and their courage,” he said.

Additional attorney volunteers are needed for the roughly two-hours per month commitment.

One of the goals of the teen court is to catch students before they go down the wrong path and show them that “people actually do care about them,” Schinke said. “A lot of these kids think they live in a vacuum and it's jarring, but in a positive way.”

For information on the teen court at NHUSD or to volunteer services, e-mail Schinke at cloverschinke@hotmail.com or call 839-6470.

Allison White can be reached at 441-0506 or awhite@times-standard.com.