Juvenile Courts

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“You can study government and politics in school, but the best way to really understand the process is to volunteer your time.” This quote by Rob McKenna, the former Attorney General of Washington, has guided my experience with volunteering. I have a passion for law and government and am preparing to attend college in the hopes of becoming a lawyer. So when I heard there was an opportunity to volunteer inside of my city’s court system, I jumped at the opportunity. The program I volunteer with is the Independence Youth Court, a diversion court program within the Juvenile Courts. First and second-time juvenile offenders are referred to Youth Court, a court composed of their peers. Within the program, they will be tried, defended, judged,

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