Courts to Classrooms program brings unique opportunity for High School Seniors
Chuck Slemp
Regulatory Investigations Counsel and Former Chief Deputy Attorney General of Virginia
We held the first of two special programs last Friday with the Wise County Public Schools and the Norton City Public Schools designed to teach high school seniors about the criminal justice system and encourage them to make wise decisions, called “Courts to Classrooms.”
On Friday, April 14, 2017, a special setting of the Wise County General District Court was held at Central High School Auditorium before an audience of high school seniors from three area high schools: Eastside High School, Union High School, and Central High School. Two criminal trials were heard today, a shoplifting allegation and a driving under the influence case. Participants in the trials included Commonwealth's Attorney Chuck Slemp and Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Stephen Davis, defense attorneys Joseph Carico and Brent Fleming, Wise County & City of Norton Circuit Court Clerk Jack Kennedy's office, Wise County Sheriff's Office & Wise County Sheriff Ronnie Oakes, and City of Norton Police Department. Following the trials, students had an opportunity to ask questions and engage in a dialogue about the cases.
We want to thank everyone involved in this program and our school systems for the opportunity to share with their students. It is important for our young people to see firsthand how the criminal justice system works. We scheduled these programs to follow spring break and ahead of prom season with the hope that we inspire young people to make wise choices in the future.