CHARLESTINA MAXIE - [X]PRESS At McCullum Youth Court in Oakland, Destine Wivagg, 20, shares her past as a youth offender. She currently works as a case manager for the court.

Destine Wivagg started shoplifting at the age of 15. After being arrested, her case was referred to the McCullum Youth Court, a restorative justice program in Oakland. She followed through by doing community service.

“I wasn’t aware of the consequences I had to face, but once I realized that stealing was not for me, that’s when I decided to change my life around and take life more seriously,” said Wivagg, now 20.

After finishing her community service, she became a case manager. “I feel like I’m able to communicate with other offenders easier since I’ve been through the process myself,” she said.

The McCullum Youth Court was designed to give first-time youth offenders, like Wivagg, a second chance. Once they complete their sentences they no longer have a record in the juvenile correctional system, explained Diana Bonilla, assistant director of community public partnership.

“We are here to open doors for them and to let them know that the mistakes they make don’t have to stay with them,” said Bonilla.

Once the offenders are sent to Youth Court, they attend a pre-hearing in which the program is introduced to them and a court night is planned. The Youth staff is in charge of prosecuting youth offenders and defending them as attorneys.

After attending the court night, they receive a sentence that is decided by a jury of fellow youth offenders who are already completing community service hours. A sentence can last between three to four months.

Around 300 to 350 youth offenders are admitted in the program annually, Bonilla said, and only 1 percent of youth offenders end up re-offending after court sanctions.

Some students come into class with a street mentality, having been involved with gangs and witnessing violence within their community, explained Matt Anderson, Boys Program Coordinator.

Anderson remembers one youth offender, nicknamed “Daddy-o” who didn’t want to come to any classes. If he did, he’d come in high, being very disruptive.

“We try to tell them that they have to put all their gang activities aside, but at the same time it gives us the ability to give them more resources and tools to [help them] make better decisions,” said Anderson. “These kids are the future of America.”

By the end of the program, Daddy-o had changed his ways. He enrolled in Oasis High School and hung out at school even when classes weren’t going on.

Instead of sending kids to a detention center where they spend time behind bars, they’re able to enter a program that’s educational and provides youth with opportunities to broaden their horizons.

After completing the program, former offenders are invited to participate in the Law & Justice Programs, like Wivagg did, to give back to their community.

“The staff don’t treat youth like youth because they realize our value and we’re kind of the same,” said Wivagg. “I totally believe in the power of the program because if you go through the process successfully you can change your ways.”