Some students in Warsaw Community Schools may get a deeper look at the law enforcement and justice systems in Kosciusko County as a result of a new program this fall.

Starting with fifth-graders at Madison Elementary, the "Courtrooms to Classrooms" program will help youngsters understand how the justice system works, said county prosecutor David Kolbe Tuesday.

"This program has the potential of a very significant blend of the justice system and the educational system," he said.

Funded by a grant from a corporate trust fund, the nine-week program was developed after Kolbe and an assistant prosecutor, Rob Reneker, attended a conference in Seattle on juvenile justice policy. Reneker will be in charge of coordinating the speakers and developing the curriculum.

"Courtrooms to Classrooms" will explain how government works on the federal and local levels, Reneker said, and will show kids what people in law enforcement and the judiciary actually do. He said he will schedule talks by judges, police and others involved in the subject matter.

Warsaw school superintendent Dr. Lee Harman said the program will start at one elementary and expand as interest grows.

"It's a good way to expose our kids to what the law is all about," he said. "We can educate kids about their rights and responsibilities. ... We're trying to be proactive in terms of helping kids understand that laws are there for a reason."

Reneker said the next step in juvenile policy is to develop a teen court for high school and middle school students.

The court will involve kids who admit guilt to their offenses, and a jury of their peers will decide their sentences based on sentencing guidelines. The person who was judged is then committed to serving on a later jury.

Kolbe said the teen court is still in the planning stages, but "the question is not if but when."

The elementary school program and the teen court will help kids realize, Reneker said, "that we're not the enemy." [[In-content Ad]]