NCJ Number
83511
Journal
Judges' Journal Volume: 21 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1982) Pages: 36-46
Date Published
1982
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This article describes the nature and benefits of judicial participation in law-related education programs for elementary and secondary students and outlines such programs' potential for preventing juvenile delinquency and for promoting positive attitudes and knowledge about the law and legal processes.
Abstract
Law-related education is designed to teach youth the practical aspects of the law and the judicial system as well as the values of the democratic process of government. Most such programs include both instruction in the classroom of the students' local school and instruction in the community through trips to courts, police stations, and government agencies. Throughout the United States, judges are participating in such programs by talking directly to students, usually in the courthouse. Students can both talk to judges and observe criminal and civil trials. Judges can involve students in 'shadow' jury activities, in which students can observe a bench trial, deliberate the case in a conference room, and discuss their findings with the judge who sat on the case. Some judges have also helped with mock trials, which are usually the culmination of a law course in a junior high or high school. Question and answer sessions are also popular with students. Students as young as age 6 and 7 can become excited about law and the court system, even though concepts like fairness, justice, and authority are difficult to describe to either children or adults. Judges who are interested in getting involved in such programs can learn from the experiences of other communities. The judge should act as a resource person and must work closely with the teachers for the program to succeed. Research on the effects of law-related education has shown that it improves students attitudes, awareness, and knowledge of the law and court system and encourages critical thinking and rationality. A list of suggested activities which a judge or lawyer can join or initiate, descriptions of judicial organizations involved in law-related education, and a description of two activities which can provide the basis for student discussions are provided.