Judicial candidates agree juvenile offender rate an issue

The run-off candidates for Eunice City Judge agree that reducing the number of juvenile offenders appearing before the bench is a priority, though they have different ideas about how to approach it. And both understand night court, sometimes lasting into the wee hours, is a problem.
Paul Brown and Terry Hoychick addressed those topics in a joint appearance before the Rotary Club last Wednesday. Hoychick led the four-candidate primary for retiring Judge Lynette Feucht’s post; Brown finished second.
They agreed to appear and respond to two prepared questions, as well as give closing remarks, all within an allotted time during the club’s noon-hour meeting at Ruby’s.
The questions:
1. What have been the most effective methods for improving court procedures and efficiency? What other methods would you suggest?
2. What do you believe to be the root causes for the high numbers of juvenile offenders? What changes can the court system make to reduce these numbers?
Responding first, Hoychick said operating procedures and efficiency haven’t been high on his list of thoughts during the campaign that effectively began months before the August qualifying period.
He noted during time spent at the court he has noticed “it is hindered a little bit by the absence of a start-of-the-art computer system.”
“They are still working with hard copy, doing no scanning. We could do better,” he said.
He also said no one he has talked to at campaign appearances and walking neighborhoods seems to want to retain night court sessions.
“I won’t have a regular office practice, and will spend all my time at City Court. We’ll have more court time during the day. We can work on a case-by-case basis with those who can’t get to court before 5 p.m. if necessary, but everywhere else” makes it work in the daytime, he said.
Hoychick said he is not real familiar with City Court organization and processes, “but I am an organization person, and that lends to efficiency.”
Brown said that before saying he would definitely move what has traditionally been night criminal court to days he would make sure that is what victims want.
“Most that I talk to so far want to move it to day, but victims have suffered enough already,” he said, indicating he wants to be sure that day works for them.
He said that scheduling arraignments, pre-trials and trials for fixed times, rather than globally on a fixed date, would help because people would not have to wait hours for their matter to be called.
“I think we could finished close to 5 or 6 o’clock,” Brown said.
Brown responded first to the second question.
He said the root cause of the juvenile offender problem is drugs.
“We like to think it doesn’t happen here, but it does. It’s a learned behavior,” he said.
Noting City Court’s concurrent jurisdiction with district court in juvenile matters, giving it not only “a huge responsibility but an advantage and opportunity for us and our kids.”
Brown, who administers adult district drug court as an assistant district attorney, plans to implement a juvenile drug court in Eunice. “Drug courts work, and we can make it work in Eunice,” he said.
He said such a court would address treatment, rehabilitation, work skills, “the works”, and can dramatically reduce the recidivism rate.
Hoychick said he believes the root cause of the juvenile offender problem is truancy. “If they are not in school they are getting into trouble,” he said.
He said a review of City Court records shows the average juvenile offender is 14-16 years of age and the No. 1 offense is truancy, followed by disturbing the peace, alcohol use, curfew violation and shoplifting.
Other findings from City Court offenders:
Predominant family connection: Single parent;
Racial component of offenders: 50 percent white, 50 percent black;
Economic standing: 8 of 10 below poverty line;
Adult factor: 85 percent lack parental supervision;
Average school age: Junior high.
“These kids are not getting the direction at home and are taking the wrong lessons to school, when they go,” Hoychick said.
What would he propose to change the situation?
“Go to schools several times a year with law enforcement and talk about consequences and about alternatives that are good; follow those visits up with visits accompanied by people who have succeeded after initial bad choices or turned their lives around; it won’t be easy, it won’t be quick, it will be one by one, two by two, but can be done.”
In their concluding remarks, both candidates noted they had “Saul moments” that led to their running.
Hoychick, 32 years a practicing attorney, was thinking of working less and fishing more until he served as City Court judge ad hoc. Following that, “I had a stirring in my heart to run and I said to Him okay, I’ll do it.”
“And after going door to door I’ve developed a passion to want to make the changes. I am willing and ready to do it,” he said.
Brown said serving as interim prosecutor at one point in City Court opened his eyes. “I didn’t think some of the juvenile stuff I was seeing could happen here. But it does,” he said, adding that experience put eventually being a judge in his mind.
“Juvenile justice is most important. We need appropriate programs for them all -- kids, parents, families,” he said.
Voters will make their decision on Dec. 6. Early voting began Saturday in the Registrar of Voters Office in the parish courthouse in Opelousas and runs through Saturday, Nov. 29, with the exception of today, Thanksgiving and the Friday after Thanksgiving.