New Franklin County municipal court program helping young adults stay on the right path
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Inside a Franklin County municipal courtroom, it's not just a matter of guilt or innocence.
"I was seeing individuals that were coming in front of me that really needed housing, they needed help getting a driver's license, they needed family stability, health insurance, all of the things that adults already have in place," Franklin County Municipal Judge Jessica D'Varga said.
She said she wants to teach the young adults she sees how to turn their life around and said oftentimes, it starts with the basics.
" So, I thought if there's a way to address these basic stabilization type needs, they probably wouldn't come back in front of us," she said.
The program is called Unleashing Potential. 'UP" for short, and for Sidney and Taylor, it's already changing their lives.
"Right now, I'm currently working on getting my driver's license, they're helping me out really well," 19-year-old Sidney George said.
"It gives you a lot of resources that you need and that you're not aware of," 20-year-old Taylor Johnson said. "I'm pregnant and I want to finish school. And just do as good as I can."
To help, each participant is paired with a mentor through the Think, Make, Live, Youth nonprofit.
Founder Terry Green, who's turned his life around, believes if he had this program, it would have kept him out of prison.
" So, if that first case, that charge when I was 18 years old, If I was able to go through the UP program and connect to these services, then I probably wouldn't have committed those other charges," Green said.
There are 12 participants taking part in the program right now.
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It's a year-long program and if successfully completed, the young adults, who are on probation, get the chance to get their records expunged.
"It's not just about getting a clear record. It's about being a better person," Taylor said.
And break the cycle of recidivism.
