Bloomfield students learn about courts

(By Anna Rochelle) --- MOCK TRIAL: On Thursday, Bloomfield Elementary School students learned the ins and outs of courtroom proceedings by participating in a mock trial. Students were divided into two groups and allowed into the Greene Circuit or Greene Superior courtroom for the program. Felicity Graf was the judge in one of the mock trials. [Order this photo]

On Thursday, the BES students learned the ins and outs of courtroom proceedings by participating in a mock trial.

Students were divided into two groups and allowed into the Greene Circuit or Greene Superior courtroom for the program.

Christina Crane, BES counselor, explained, "They have been participating in a guidance program entitled 'Project LEAD: Legal Education to Arrest Delinquency'."

The program teaches students about the law, law enforcement and society in general. It also introduces them to careers within the Law and Public Safety Cluster, Crane added.

"The program emphasizes the importance of making wise choices now; and how those choices can have an impact on their future in both positive and negative ways," she also said.

Crane hopes that the program continues at the school.

"It is my intent to continue this program as part of our elementary guidance program. The fifth-grade teachers, our principal, and the guest speakers have been nothing but supportive," she added.

Crane also thanked Judge Erik Allen and Judge Dena Martin for opening up their courtrooms and assisting the students during the mock trials.

Students also participated in a T-shirt design contest related to the program, Crane said.

"Each student will receive a T-shirt with the winning design courtesy of a grant from the Greene County Prosecutor's Office," she explained.

The students also submitted an essay summarizing what Project LEAD has meant to them. A committee selected the top three girls' essays and the top three boys' essays, and they each received a gift certificate.

The top three girl essay winners were: Mikaila Edmundson (first) ; Shelby Chestnut (second); Jeanna Murawski (third).

The top three boy essay winners were: Jaekob Ham (first); Brandon Thompson (second); Brennan Hughes (third).

During the program, students have also participated in guidance-related activities from the their manuals, "Putting Yourself in the Other Person's Shoes," she added.

They have also enjoyed listening to the following guest speakers discuss their careers as well as the juvenile justice system: Erik Allen, Greene Circuit Court Judge; TJ Brink, Southwest Indiana Regional Youth Village; Julie Johnson, Greene County Probation Department; Jarrod Holtsclaw, Greene County Prosecuting Attorney; and Brad Lutes, Indiana State Excise Police.

Project LEAD was originally developed by the Department of 4-H, Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service. This is a special citizenship curriculum is designed to prevent juvenile delinquency by educating youth in late elementary school about the law, and by helping them develop decision-making skills. The objectives of the program are:

* To help youth learn to make choices and think about the consequences of their actions.

* To help youth learn about the need for laws in our society.

* To help youth learn about the law and the legal system.

* To help clarify youth's attitudes about authority.

* To have youth interact with persons in the legal system and in law enforcement in a positive way.