Mercer County Vicinage Advisory Committee, New Jersey Contact: Hon. Carmen M. Garcia, Municipal Court Judge/Chair Mercer Vicinage Advisory Committee P. O. Box 7982, Trenton, NJ 08628 E-mail: ivette@alumni.princeton.edu Activity Summary: MCVAC sponsored a number of educational activities to commemorate Law Week 97. An essay contest for inner city children, co-sponsored with the bar association, explored the meaning of justice. A hundred-eighty high school students participated in a mentorship program which provided written materials, personal contact with an attorney/mentor and direct exposure to courtroom proceedings, search dog and/or breathalyzer demonstrations and a tour of the detention facility. The premier event, attended by more than 220 citizens, held at the Civil Courthouse, featured sign and Spanish language interpreters, a speech, an awards presentation, music and five varied legal workshops. Activity Narrative: The Mercer County Advisory Committee on Minority Concerns, consistent with their mission to serve and educate the public on the judicial system, sponsors a series of activities throughout the year. During May, the committee sponsors Law Week which is comprised of three activities: an adult educational program, a high school mentorship program and an elementary school essay contest. The activities require a coordination of efforts between multiple county agencies: the Sheriff's office, local and state police departments, the vicinage and state probation and judiciary personnel, private and public bars, as well as citizen volunteers and community based organizations. Law Day The adult program, May 7, 1997, held in the New Civil Court House, offered Mercer County residents an opportunity to obtain legal information from five selected topics. The committee invited lawyers, judges, advocacy groups and a surrogate to facilitate workshops on the following: wills and estates, custody, support & visitation, HIV/AIDS related issues, landlord/tenant and municipal court rights. Local and regional newspapers, radio stations and cable television publicized the event in both Spanish and English. More than 125 community-based organizations with emphasis on special needs clientele were formally invited to attend the Law Day program. The program began with a welcoming from the Acting Assignment Judge of Mercer County Superior Court. Then, Judge Carmen Garcia gave a speech expressing the importance of the activity within the context of the theme "Celebrating Our Freedom." An awards presentation followed which highlighted the winners (4th and 5th graders) of the essay contest. The opening celebration closed with a musical selection which inspired the more than 220 participants to consider the positive role of the law in their lives. Thereafter, participants attended 90-minute workshops. The program featured simultaneous sign language and Spanish language interpreting. Security was provided by the Sheriff's office while the Trenton Police Explorers youth group served as escorts throughout the evening. In addition to refreshments, over 100 varied educational materials in Spanish and English were on display for dissemination to the public. Additionally, the Administrative Offices of the Courts provided informational materials on government careers and employment opportunities. High School Mentorship Program The coordinating committee invited all the Mercer County High Schools to participate in the program. More than 180 students participated in a four-day program. Forty-five attorneys representing both the public and private bars served as mentors. Upon arrival, the students were greeted by Judge Carchman, the assignment judge of Mercer County and observed presentations by the Prosecutor and public Defender's Office. Afterwards, the students were assigned a mentor with whom they toured the courthouse and detention facilities, observed a search dog and a breathalyzer demonstration or sat in on judicial proceedings. Essay Contest The committee sponsored an essay contest in conjunction with the Mercer County Bar Association for 4th and 5th graders of the Trenton Public Schools. The students wrote essays on "What Justice Means to Me." More than 100 students participated. The first prize winner received a $500 savings bond and the opportunity to serve as judge for a day in Municipal Court. The second prize and third prize winners received a $200 and $100 savings bond, respectively. The committee also awarded several honorable mentions. The winners of the essay contest received their awards and public acknowledgment during the opening of the Law Day celebration. They were accompanied by their parents, teachers, principals and the Superintendent of Schools. WZBN, a cable television news station, and local newspapers attended and recorded the event. The first place essay was published in the Mercer County Bar Association newsletter. Additionally, the New Jersey Chief Justice invited the contest winners to meet her and tour the Supreme Court. Impact Beyond Law Week Following Law Week, MCVAC participated in a two-day festival in Trenton which celebrates diversity. The activity involved a TV/VCR public education broadcast and more than 100 different legal/educational booklets and materials, including Spanish language publications and information on employment opportunities. Throughout the year, MCVAC continues its efforts to inform and educate the public. Its members participate in various programs including: the Antiviolence Month, Trenton Police Explorers, Sheriff's Office Scared Straight and service-oriented activities with the bar association and the Surrogate's Office, mock trials, career days and general community outreach to improve the quality of justice in Mercer County. Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization