ReaL Book, Stage C: Workshop 3, Part 2

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation...

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation...

In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation...

The Brownsville Youth Court hears low-level cases for first-time offenders between 10 and 18, like Garrett, who was arrested for stealing an umbrella.

Garrett says she was initially suspicious about her case being overseen by a court of fellow teenagers.

Misdemeanor cases are referred to the court at the discretion of schools, the police, or the city’s probation department.

Youth court, unlike the normal juvenile justice process, doesn’t send kids to jail.

One study found that children who were referred to youth court were significantly less likely to be recycled into the juvenile system for new offenses.

Sharese Crouther, one of the founders and planner of the court’s community initiatives, has been there for every single one of them.

After Garrett wrote an apology and worked in a soup kitchen—fulfilling the court’s “sentence”—it was Crouther who encouraged her to become part of the program.

It doth appear you are a worthy judge.
You know the law. Your exposition
Hath been most sound.

By my soul I swear
There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me. I stay here on my bond.

I decided to enlist in the Air Force, where I proudly attained the rank of sergeant.

I had a normal, good life. Nothing spectacular.

I owe my freedom to the extraordinary efforts of my family, friends, and volunteer lawyers who fought tirelessly for me to obtain the DNA evidence from my case.

One important step would be for Congress to pass the Innocence Protection Act, which would ensure that people who face the death penalty have greater access to the DNA from their cases.