For Immediate Release
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CONTACT: Christi Powers
State Bar of Wisconsin
(608) 250-6025
Atty. Linda Remeschatis
(608) 833-3462. |
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Middle School Students Participate in Anti-Crime Ad Contest
Dane County Bar Recognized for Creating Juvenile Justice Lesson
Plan
MADISON, May 22, 2001 - Students at Spring Harbor,
Toki, Waunakee and Wisconsin Heights middle schools are participating in
an anti-crime ad contest as part of an award-winning juvenile
justice lesson plan created by the Dane County Bar Association,
with funding from the State Bar's Local Bar Grant Competition. Local
media, judges, attorneys, and advertising executives will judge the
student entries on Wednesday, May 23. The three winners
will receive $100 from the Dane County Bar Association.
The Juvenile Justice Lesson Plan is an active learning lesson plan
for 6th to 8th graders. It presents information about laws that can
affect children and adolescents, such as laws prohibiting vandalism,
criminal trespass, retail theft, battery, sexual contact, and use of
controlled substances. The Dane County Bar recently received an
Award of Exceptional Achievement from the State Bar of
Wisconsin for developing the lesson plan as a public service
project.
"For those who work with juveniles and their victims, we've known for
a long time that must do more to inform and educate juveniles before
they commit crimes, said Attorney Linda Remeschatis, former chair of the
Law for the Public Committee of the Dane County Bar. "In too many cases,
juveniles do not know how their misconduct affects victims, themselves
or their families. Hopefully, through education, more young people will
become responsible, empathetic, and law-abiding citizens."
The Dane County Bar developed the lesson plan in cooperation with
Business and Education Partnership, Inc., the Madison Metropolitan
School System, law enforcement educators, the Madison Police Department,
the State Public Defenders Office and the State Bar of Wisconsin. To
date, more than a half-dozen area middle schools have incorporated the
lesson plans in their curriculum.
"I applaud the efforts of the educators, attorneys, citizens and
police officers who collaborated to produce this valuable educational
tool for our schools," said Madison Attorney Gerald Mowris,
president-elect of the State Bar. "Educating young people about their
rights and responsibilities is essential in fostering trust and
confidence in the justice system."
The State Bar of Wisconsin is the mandatory professional association,
created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, for attorneys who hold a law
license in Wisconsin. With more than 20,000 members, the State Bar aids
the courts in improving the administration of justice, provides
continuing legal education for its members, and carries out initiatives
to educate the public about the legal system. The Dane County Bar is
made up of approximately 1,500 attorneys and judges, many of whom are
active in local public education and outreach activities.
For more information on the State Bar of Wisconsin local bar grant
competition, see www.wisbar.org/bars/lbgcomp.html.
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