By james art RENO, Nev. (KOLO) — What was started in 1994 by Judge Janet Berry, the children’s court has since served over 100 classrooms and more than 3,000 students each year. Children’s Court is an educational field trip that aims to teach elementary school students about government and the judicial system. They also take this time to emphasize the importance of making good life decisions that will keep them out of the criminal justice system.
The program is open to fifth- and sixth-graders and consists of two main components: a mock trial and an “ask a prisoner” portion. During the mock trial, students are assigned roles in the courtroom as a lawyer, judge, bailiff, or juror. Students conduct the trademark children’s court case of BB Wolf vs. The Three Little Pigs.
When the mock trial is over, students move on to the questioning part of a prisoner. They can ask inmates directly about life in prison and the decisions they made to get them to where they are now.
Children learn valuable life lessons not only about government and the judicial system, but also about the consequences of making bad decisions.
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