If there are any youngsters out there looking to do some very important community service work, get involved in their community, or even get some important career experience; Katie Osterbur would like to hear from you. She runs the Vermilion County Peer Court program, a stand alone operation that’s been in existence for 29 years; started by five female attorneys who felt a Peer Court was needed.
As Osterbur explains, the Peer Court works with the involved police department or the State’s Attorney’s Office in handling young defendants who qualify for the program.
Audio PlayerAUDIO: Our clients go though a trial where they have to talk about what happened, tell their story, and answer questions. Our teenagers ask the questions, prosecute and defend the cases, and help determine a punishment for the youth based on our guidelines. If the youth successfully accepts and completes that punishment, the charges against them are dismissed.
The teen volunteers hold session Monday nights in the Danville Municipal Building. Osterbur says some Peer Court members over the years have gone on to legal or law enforcement careers, while others have simply used it as a valuable experience in general. Anyone 12 to 18 can be considered. Osterbur says a Peer Court Board of Directors, made up of Vermilion County citizens, oversees the operation.
Training sessions are coming up at 4:15 PM on June 15th, June 27th, July 11th, and July 25th. After a training session, you can see how it works, with court sessions beginning at 5:30. Youngsters interested can contact Katie Osterbur at 217-260-0023. You do not need to hit all four training sessions, nor participate in each and every session. You just need a desire to help your community.
