Since 2016, Baltimore Outreach for Student Success, or BOSS, has established a deeper connection between the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law and the Baltimore City community. The student organization promotes youth justice by partnering with Maryland Youth and the Law (MYLaw) to support diversionary programming for Baltimore City youth through Teen Court, mentoring, tutoring, and other programming. For current BOSS president and JD/MSW student, Millicent Sasu, involvement with BOSS “reminds me why I came to law school. It provides a deeper understanding of the issues impacting youth in the city.”
Baltimore City Teen Court is a diversionary program for youth who have been arrested for misdemeanor crimes in in the city. MYLaw administers the Teen Court program, which receives referrals from the Baltimore City Police, School Resource Officers, Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, and the Department of Juvenile Services. The Teen Court proceedings mirror a court hearing and is often presided tover by a judge or someone connected with the legal system who leads the proceeding. However, what makes Teen Court special is that the youth respondent is present and provided an opportunity to explain their side of what happened before a jury of their peers. The jury, often comprised of youth who have gone through Teen Court, listen and ask questions prior to deliberating to determine the appropriate sanctions, ranging from community service, an apology letter, or a 5/10/15 year life plan.
Approximately once a week, law students from BOSS serve as courtroom facilitators. They help explain the process and support youth jurors asking questions and determining sanctions. Involvement from the law students help the youth feel more confident throughout the process. Alli Gumienny, Teen Court Chair of BOSS describes her favorite part of Teen Court as “having the opportunity to watch youth develop self-confidence throughout their participation in the program.”
Beyond the “teen courtroom,” law students in BOSS serve as mentors and tutors. Among the various sanctions youth juries can assign is mentoring. Youth are paired with a law student mentor and must meet at least four times within a 90-day time period. Mentors support the youth in completing the sanctions, which may include a letter of apology, essay, serving as a juror, and community service. Further, twice a month on Wednesday evenings, BOSS students provide tutoring to local youth involved in Teen Court. On average five youth attend the tutoring sessions where they receive assistance with homework, support in completing sanctions from Teen Court, or a dedicated time to complete schoolwork.
Law students in BOSS recognize the value of diversion and challenges of the juvenile justice system. Rianna Mukherjee, Vice President of BOSS, is “proud of the work BOSS does to divert Baltimore City youth from the criminal legal system and help young people find a better path to achieve their dreams.” Baltimore City youth involved in the programming immediately feel the impact of BOSS . For example, after attending a BOSS event focused on developing healthy relationships and coping skills, one youth remarked “thank you for everything. Teen Court and mentoring are giving me a better angle on life.”
BOSS is already planning additional activities for the current academic year, focusing on in person opportunities to connect. Plans include a mock trial event at the law school where the youth will observe practices of the school’s award-winning National Trial Team and Thurgood Marshall Trial Team. Then they will present their own arguments on a mock trial case and panel discussions with local attorneys and MYLaw representatives.