PERRY COUNTY - First-time juvenile offenders in Perry County sometimes find themselves facing the toughest jury of all - one made up of their peers.

Through its Youth Court program, which recently completed its first year, Perry County offers these offenders a chance to avoid criminal prosecution and instead face other consequences for their actions.

"Even with something minor, this helps them, that they won't have that hanging over their head," said Circuit Clerk Kim Kellerman, who volunteers her time and expertise to help with the program.

Offenders can be referred to youth court through the school at which they're enrolled, by a Perry County law enforcement agency or by the state's attorney's office. Once a youngster is referred, Deputy Steve Bareis of the Perry County Sheriff's Department provides information to the juvenile and his or her family.

A hearing date is set, and the rest seems like a regular court proceeding with one major change - 12 high school students from Pinckneyville Community High School, Du Quoin High School and Trico High School comprise the court's ruling body.

David Searby Jr., a Du Quoin attorney who serves as the program's moderator, said jurors swear on oath not to divulge information said in court. If jurors were to break this oath, they could find themselves facing legal prosecution themselves.

Jurors in this case don't attempt to find the offender guilty or innocent; they instead decide what consequences will best help the individuals involved. The goal is "to take away the idea of punishment and to go more to the idea of 'Let's fix whatever the problem is,'" said State's Attorney David Stanton.

The Youth Court jury heard 41 cases in the first year of the program, and most of them seem to have been successful, Searby said. Four cases were terminated and the involved juveniles were either issued citations or prosecuted by the appropriate authority.

Only one of the juveniles who were successfully discharged re-offended at a later date. Two failed to meet the requirements set forth by the jury and were punished on their original charges, he said.

"It's getting the offenders' attention and they're taking their actions more seriously," Bareis said.

But for those involved, the most rewarding part of the program comes from watching the young people who serve on the jury. In addition to providing these individuals with real world-simulated courtroom experience, it also shows the positive side of today's youth.

"Our youth is definitely our future, and usually the world, people and society focus on the kids that aren't the good kids," Kellerman said.

The Perry County program is the only Youth Court in Southern Illinois and one of only three south of Interstate 70. The programs are more common in the northern part of the state, but all parties involved locally said they would be willing to talk to or help any other interested counties in the area.

adam.testa@thesouthern.com / 351-5031

Dispositions of the Peer Jury

The following requirements were given to youth in 37 cases tried by the Perry County Youth Court in 2007:

l 820 hours of community service

l $675 in restitution

l 30 letters of apology

l 7 cases of mandatory counseling

l 6 cases of required drug testing

l 5 written essays

l 4 projects