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An earnest bailiff set a no-nonsense tone for court as he meticulously used a metal detector to screen those entering the courtroom — which was a classroom at Hermitage High School.
A three-week criminal justice summer program for middle schoolers closed out with a mock trial at the school last week.
The bailiff opened court with gusto and the trial began in the simulated case of Tony vs. the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Tony was charged with vandalism and accused of throwing a rock through his neighbor’s window.
A quick-witted prosecutor made his case that Noah had always disliked his neighbor and that he was seen with the rock in his hand. But his cross examinations were no match for the defense attorney, who argued that while witnesses saw a rock in Tony’s hand, nobody saw him throw it.
After the jury deliberated, Tony was acquitted of the charge and found not guilty.
Through the three-week mini program, many of the middle-schoolers decided to pursue a job path in criminal justice. The bailiff used to want to be a lawyer, but now he wants to be an FBI agent. One student who came into the program thinking she wanted to be a detective learned about the dangers of the job and now wants to be a paralegal. Another student is set on becoming a U.S. Marshal so he can “hunt people down.”
Aside from learning about careers, the students said they learned about how little things can affect your life down the road.
The mini camp for middle schoolers is a look into Hermitage High School’s two-year criminal justice program for juniors and seniors, which is one of the school’s 18 Advanced Career Education programs.
“The idea is that they will use the mini camp to engage in content they would not have an opportunity at their home school, and to open the door up to the possibilities that Henrico County Public Schools has for all of the kids,” said Dale King, principal of the Hermitage ACE Center. “What we do is really try to really engage kids and connect their passion to what we have to offer… We believe that if you're passionate about the content, you're going to be more successful.”
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Anna Bryson is the Henrico Citizen's education reporter and a Report for America corps member. Make a tax-deductible donation to support her work, and RFA will match it dollar for dollar.
