Students in Prince George's County to learn about the law in court
On Thursday, the Prince George's District Courthouse will host students from Dr. Henry Wise and Fredrick Douglas high schools, giving them a real courtroom experience and educating them on how the law actually works in their 'Schools to Courts' program.
Students get to participate in an interactive way of learning. They'll get to see K-9s, mock trials and even members of the state attorney's office in action
Administrative Judge Lisa Hall Johnson is one of the judges in the program and says that the program has been both fun and successful for the students.
'This really brings it to life for them. They're in a courtroom setting. They get to see officers in their uniforms. They get to see the K-9 officer, and they see the judges and myself and Judge Simpkins,' said Johnson. 'Our idea is really for the students to understand the law and the choices that they'll have as young people. And the outcomes are based on the choices that they make, good choices and bad choices.'
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These sessions are fun, but the ones in charge are making sure the students are taking important lessons. Prince George's County as a whole has made it a point to focus on youth crime, and Judge Johnson hopes the students are impacted by this program.
'You know, you're going to make the choices that you're going to make … but understand how it's affecting the development of your mind,' said Johnson. 'These are topics that, for better or worse, are in their environment, and they know about them, and it's better for them to get information from the judges and from lawyers and from the doctors than from, you know, other people.'
This program is held four times every school year.
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