Red Hook Justice - Your Community. Your Court.

October is Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness month. Every year the youth court does something in recognition of these two issues. This time, on Thursday October 23, we designated the time spent with youth court members to address Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence Awareness. The Youth Court staff gave presentations on both topics and allowed time for questions and a discussion. The Youth Court members were very interested in learning more about both topics and had some very insightful questions. The members and staff wore pink and purple in honor of breast cancer and domestic violence awareness. Some of the members even sold pink and purple bracelets at school to raise money and awareness! Although we mainly focus on the ‘court’ aspect of youth court, it is also important that we make sure the youth court members are taking care of themselves and are educated about issues that may be relevant to them. Youth Court member wearing his Domestic Violence Aware...

  On September 23, 2014, in recognition of National Youth Court Month the Red Hook Youth Court members participated in a Scavenger Hunt created for them by the Staff. The members were split in to four teams and each team walked through the local neighborhood solving riddles and receiving clues based on a fictional court case 283065 Youth Court vs. Michael Hunt.  Youth Court members at Checkpoint 1   Youth Court members at Checkpoint 1   Their job was to find out what offense Michael was sent to Youth Court for and where he was confronted by the police. At each ‘checkpoint’ they were given a riddle based on information about the youth court and if they were able to solve it they would receive the next clue. At the end of the hunt, once they received their four clues, they went back to the Red Hook Community justice center and wrote up a statement based on what they think happened on the day the respondent committed the crime. The team closest to the ...

October is domestic violence awareness month and the Red Hook Community Justice Center is happy to announce it will start a new Victim Services Program later this year. The program will serve victims of crime, with a focus on victims of domestic violence. Serving both court-involved victims and community residents, the Crime Victim Services program will play a key role in providing a multi-disciplinary response to crime victims. More details to come. In the meantime, we’re hiring a Social Worker and Case Manager for this program. See links below for more details. The last day to apply is October 31. Senior Crime Victim Specialist (LMSW) http://www.courtinnovation.org/employment/senior-crime-victim-specialist-lmsw Crime Victim Services Case Manager: http://www.courtinnovation.org/employment/crime-victim-services-case-manager Jessica Colon, Deputy Project Director

“In keeping up with Red Hook Youth Court tradition and in recognition of the 13 th anniversary of September 11 th ,the youth court members baked some treats and dropped off goody baskets with thank you cards to the local precinct and fire department – honoring them for their bravery during 9/11 and on an everyday basis. We salute them!” Red Hook Youth Court Members At  Local Fire Engine 202   Red Hook Youth Court Members With Officer Vincent Marrone of The 76th Precinct

  On Thursday, August 28th the Red Hook Youth Court members visited the U.S District Courthouse and were able to attend a Naturalization Ceremony lead by the Honorable Judge William Kuntz.  Following the ceremony Youth Court members went up to Judge Kuntz's courtroom where he greeted the members and allowed them to ask him questions regarding law, justice and current social issues. The discussion and visit as a whole went very well.    Red Hook Youth Court Members & Staff With Honorable Judge William Kuntz     For the past year the Red Hook Youth Court has been establishing its relationship with the Eastern District’s  U.S. Attorney's Office and District Courthouse. So far we have visited the courthouse twice and most recently held one of our bi-annual Graduation and Induction ceremonies in the Ceremonial Courtroom of the Courthouse.    Red Hook Youth Court Members Outside The Courthouse  This Fall for their ...

The Red Hook Community Justice Center has recently installed new signs throughout the building. This signage project is part of a larger initiative called Procedural Justice which  aims to improve courtroom communication and court users' perceptions of the court process. Procedural justice research shows when defendants and litigants perceive the court process to be fair, they are more likely to comply with court orders and follow the law in  the future. You can learn more about procedural justice here: http://www.courtinnovation.org/topic/procedural-justice  #proceduraljustice     Jessica Colon Deputy Project Director 

Last week, the Red Hook Community Justice Center and the Kentler International Drawing Space celebrated the culmination of our JustArts Make Your Mark youth drawing program with an exhibition of the student's work at Kentler's gallery. Local middle school students were able to participate in this summer program and learn about the art of drawing. Staff, students and their families and friends, were on hand to celebrate the exhibition. The week before, the Justice Center's JustWorks Summer Internship Program went on a college trip to visit Fairfield and Bridgeport colleges in Connecticut. Participants in our internship program, are all local high school students that are placed at host sites where they gain real work experience, receive training before and during their internship, and earn a stipend. Most of our students aspire to go to college, and one of the highlights of our internship program is giving the opportunity to learn more about the college application p...