Pima County Superior Court, AZ Contact: Paula Nailon, Caseflow Manager Superior Court of Pima County 110 West Congress Street, Tucson, AZ 85701 This program was a winner of the 1997 Law Day Activity Awards. TEENS SPEAK OUT! Activity Summary: Teens Speak Out! is unique. It does not "speak at" teens. Nor is it an open forum, which puts uninformed teens at a disadvantage. Teens shine at this solution-oriented Law Day event because they have become "experts" on juvenile law. The program educates teens about juvenile laws, and helps them dialogue with policymakers about their ideas for solving crime. Teens Speak Out! is truly a community effort involving hundreds of students, lawyers, and "policymakers" who are so influential that adults have asked how they can participate! They are told, "Sorry, this event is for teens only!" Cooperating/Co-Sponsoring organizations include the Young Lawyers Division of the Pima County Bar Association, the Pima County Superior Court, the Pima County Juvenile Court, the Marana Police Department and the Tucson Unified School District. Activity Narrative: After teen-demonstration to protest curfews resulted in violence and arrests, program organizers saw the need for a program to (1) help teens become better informed about the law and (2) encourage policymakers to consult with teens (our best experts on juvenile issues) before instituting laws and policies to reduce crime and deal with other juvenile issues. The program must focus on solutions and citizens' duty to use the democratic process to change laws they do not like. Teens Speak Out! was developed in 1996 and is now embraced as a model for legal learning by middle and high school students and a wide variety of policymakers from local, county, and statewide levels. Via the program, numerous community partnerships have been forged; co-sponsors include the courts, bar, schools and law enforcement. Teens also play a key role in program planning each year. During the Law Day event, adults remain in the background; teens staff the registration tables, serve as keynote speakers and are interviewed by the media. The program is truly designed to focus on and empower teens. Teens Speak Out! swings into action several months before Law Day, as middle and high school students begin to study the legislative process and juvenile legal system. Once they understand the basic issues, classes select specific issues to research. Topics selected this year were: Teen Pregnancy & Child Support, Racism, Gangs, Juveniles Tried As Adults, Due Process, First Amendment, and Alcohol Laws. Students next develop "Issue Briefs" analyzing both the current law and the students' suggested changes. Teens often develop new programs to decrease teen crime or address other important social issues. They are assisted by teachers, juvenile probation officers, young lawyers and judges. The program committee has developed products to help teachers and students learn about the law, including (1) individualized legal packets containing newspaper clippings, statutes, pending legislation, and cases; (2) How to Prepare an Issue Brief; (3) History of Juvenile Justice in Arizona 1907-1996; (4) Juvenile Rights & Responsibilities booklet, containing a wealth of information about juvenile laws, including health and employment rights, juvenile court, school discipline; (5) Communicating with Public Officials; and (6) Communicating with the Media. An illustrated hip-pocket sized version of Juvenile Rights & Responsibilities will soon be printed in sufficient quantities for distribution to every teenager in Tucson. As part of pre-Law Day publicity, students and attorneys appear on radio and television to discuss timely issues such as juvenile transfer to adult court, Teen Court, etc. This year, media appearances included 3 television programs and 3 radio programs. Teens Speak Out! culminates on Law Day, during a dynamic event where teens gather in downtown Tucson to speak with "policymakers" in small and large group settings. This year, more than 295 students attended. Other attendees included 15 teachers, 20 parents, 15 probation officers, 12 Teen Court members, 9 Superior and Juvenile Court Judges, the Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court, the Pima County Attorney, 2 chiefs of police, 15 police officers, 6 members of the City Council and County Board of Supervisors, 3 state legislators, 2 representatives from Arizona's U.S. Legislators' offices, 20 court employees, as well as interested citizens and media. Because it was developed in 1996 and to heighten program identifiability, the overall theme of Teens Speak Out! is "The Power of One." This is a fitting theme, because the program emphasizes one person's ability and duty in a democratic system to speak out for change. This year's theme, "Celebrate Your Freedom" was also highlighted during the Law Day Ceremony, and future years' themes will be similarly featured. The program will expand next year. More schools will be invited to participate and classroom legal studies will begin earlier in the year. School assemblies with law-related presentations will be offered, to generate excitement and reach more students. A volunteer attorney will be assigned to each school to help wherever needed. We will also link students with community organizations which can help them implement their suggestions for decreasing juvenile crime or changing the laws. Finally, we plan to expand the program statewide in the near future and, perhaps, nationwide once the program has been adequately refined. Teens Speak Out! reminds policymakers, and the general public, that most teens wish to be good citizens and are vitally interested in the laws which affect them. It shows that teens, if given the opportunity, can come up with creative solutions for decreasing juvenile crime in their schools and communities. It provides a lesson in good citizenship for all who participate in the program. Sample Programs Home | By Audience | By Location | By Sponsoring Organization