Kailyn Pophal
$500 Scholarship
How has Teen Court and Restorative Justice impacted your community?
Teen Court and restorative justice impact my community and many others surrounding it. When we are presented with a youth with a violation, our only goal is to help that individual. Our main focus is to understand why they did what they did and how we can help them and their role in their community. When our panelists are constructing sanctions, we consider how youth can better themselves and the others involved. Knowing we finished a hearing where we give youth beneficial sanctions is key to knowing our community is being positively impacted as well.
Miriam Sanberg
$250 Scholarship
How has Teen Court and Restorative Justice impacted your community?
Growing up in a small town, I feel a deep connection to my community, so I prioritize making positive contributions to service. By actively participating in many service activities, including Teen Court, I support my community while making a positive impact on others. I love the idea of introducing restorative justice to those around me because focusing on the root causes of misconduct, such as racism, poverty, parental mistreatment, and mental health issue,s can contribute to a great likelihood of long-term behavior change, thus decreasing recidivism rates. What community couldn’t benefit from that? The life that exists for many individuals with a violation could be dramatically different if they were given a chance to experience restorative justice, and I have witnessed this happen with youth involved with the Buffalo/Pepin County Teen Court team. Because of our panel members, youth with violations are set up well for repaired relationships, restored community image, and decreased recidivism. My community is a better place because of Teen Court, and I feel proud to be a part of the process!
