New court banks on community’s concern to help young offenders

By Sean Barron

YOUNGSTOWN — Want to do something to help area youngsters who commit minor offenses get their lives back on track?

Then Judge Theresa Dellick of Mahoning County’s juvenile court would like to hear from you.

Judge Dellick teamed up with Tony Budak to outline and seek volunteers for a Time Bank Youth Court during Saturday’s public meeting at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, 614 Parmalee Ave., on the city’s North Side.

Primary aims of the court, which would serve and be administered by teens, are to convert a youngster’s early encounter with law enforcement into a turning point by enhancing self-esteem, decision-making skills and commitment to community.

The youth court also will be designed to provide early-intervention and prevention programs and function as a diversion. Participants would need parental consent.

Budak, a retired Delphi worker who founded and coordinates Time Bank Mahoning Watershed, told his audience of about 40 people that civic work is part of the time bank concept. That includes helping to build the youth court as a way of giving young offenders a chance to be accountable, yet give back to the community.

“I’ve heard that what’s going on out on the streets is a feeder mill to prison,” he said. “We’d like to get [low-level misdemeanor offenders] onto another track.”

Purposes of time banking include strengthening communities and building social networks, noted Budak, of Hubbard. That translates into stronger neighborhoods, schools, social services and youth justice, he continued.

The Time Bank Youth Court will be designed to use peer pressure as a way to dispense justice to young, nonviolent offenders ages 10-17. Those who commit crimes at age 18 will be tried as adults, the judge explained.

Minor charges include criminal damaging, shoplifting, truancy and curfew violations, she noted.

The concept, which started in the late 1980s, is powerful because for many young offenders, being judged and sanctioned by peers carries more weight than hearing it from adults, the judge said.

In the court, peers would hear what offenders did and give them a chance to explain their side before imposing sanctions. A teen who stole an item from a store, for example, might be required to speak to other youths about the consequences of shoplifting, she said.

Another benefit of the court, Judge Dellick continued, will be its ability to hold youngsters responsible for their actions while having them learn new, more productive skills.

“We hold youth accountable to protect public safety, but teach new skills,” Judge Dellick said, adding that the combination leads to much lower recidivism rates.

Ten such courts are operating in Ohio, but this would be the first one that works in conjunction with time banking, the judge said.

The youth court needs adult and youth volunteers to act as role models, tutors and mentors, noted Judge Dellick, who said she thinks the court should get under way by October. To volunteer, e-mail her at www.tdellick@mahoningcountyoh.gov.