 The
judge said that the program was created as
an attempt at preventive law enforcement, to
keep youngsters from having to face the
consequences of their actions. The judge
said that when she has the youth in front of
her court, it is already too late, and that
if just one student learns from the
presentation and walks away from trouble,
her time was well spent.
The program, initiated by Judge Mark
Drummond in 2007, has been touring schools
in the state, trying to get the message
across that errors in judgment with alcohol
or drugs early in a youngster's life can
have consequences throughout their
adulthood.
Using a PowerPoint presentation, the
judge explained to the students the seven
reasons to leave the party.
Reason 1: Death. Backnecht admitted
that youth don't readily think of death, but
deaths relating to DUI accidents are the
leading cause of death for 15- through
20-year-olds.
Reason 2: A criminal record. The
judge said there is a misconception that a
juvenile record won't follow someone into
adulthood. But now, with the Internet, a
prospective employer could find a record of
an arrest years after the case, and it could
keep a person from being hired.
Reason 3: No trust. Once the trust is
broken with your family, the judge said it
is never the same, no matter how hard a
youngster tries to rebuild that trust with
their parents.
Reason 4: No time. Going to court,
having to go to probation hearings, attorney
meetings and more all take away time from
what you could be doing if you hadn't gotten
into trouble with the law.
Reason 5: No privacy. The judge asked
the students if they realized they would
have to give urine samples in front of law
enforcement officials if they are accused of
taking drugs.
Reason 6: No money. Drinking
illegally can cost serious money. Just one
beer can bring a $500 fine. The judge asked
if any of the students could afford a $3,000
six-pack.
Reason 7: No car. Illinois has a
zero-tolerance law for minors. If you are
busted for any alcohol-related offense, you
automatically lose your license for a year,
even if your car wasn't involved.
[to
top of second column] |
Although the costs of an offense and
losing the privilege to drive seemed to
connect best with the students, some graphic
pictures were the most effective in driving
home the point about drug use.
The judge showed the "before" and "after"
pictures of a young woman who became
addicted to meth, and in just a few years
the girl appeared to age 50 years.
There were also pictures of actor Nick
Nolte before and after he was arrested for
drug use as well as pop singer Britney
Spears.
But the most graphic pictures were saved
for last, and they hushed the school kids
into dead silence.
Jacqueline Saburido, a 20-year-old
from Texas, was injured and burned to the
point of being unrecognizable because of a
drunk driver. The young lady has no face,
and the pictures brought home the reality
that not everyone dies in a crash, and the
consequences can last a lifetime.
[Text from
files received, LDN]
 |
