As a veteran BCEC member, I’ve participated in almost all of our programs. Buckeye REACH stands out as one of my favorites because of the relationship we’re able to build with the youth in the facility. As your bond with each child becomes stronger, it’s impossible not to feel passionate about helping them to improve as individuals and bettering themselves in preparation for their release. One of the youth in our Circleville REACH program has been with us for nearly three years, and has shown significant improvement with his behavioral issues, leadership capabilities, and self-efficacy. Earlier this month, several members of our team and myself were able to serve as witnesses to his early-release hearing at the Franklin County Municipal Courthouse.
Walking into the courthouse in the midst of serious renovation construction, a thick layer of chaos filled the air. Tons of people were scrambling around, bombarding the elevators, and lost in confusion. The general consensus was that there was an overflow of cases that week because judges moved hearings to fit their holiday vacation schedules. As we made our way to the sixth floor, the elevator doors opened to a long wall of eerie paintings of children. I felt uneasy looking at these happy children on the wall knowing that this is the exact same place where some children’s lives are ruined.
Inside courtroom 57, the greatly unorganized judicial system kept us waiting until 11:35am for a 9:00am scheduled hearing. When our REACH student finally approached the table, I was flooded with emotions. I was so happy to see him in this opportunity that he’d been waiting three and a half years to experience; but I was also terrified that the ambition, optimism, and hope of this child would be crushed by the judge’s decision. After several minutes of legal jargon between his public defender and the state attorney, our youth stood to make a statement. Listening to his plea, hearing the emotion in his voice, and watching a mother stare at her son as he begged for his freedom, I couldn’t help but breakdown. Within ten minutes of our student taking the stand, the judge had made his decision, and the young man’s shackles and orange jumpsuit were removed. He was finally free.