Youth in the System and Organizing Towards Court Compliance

Noah Boyette has been charged as a minor in possession of alcohol in District court. At 19 years old, she is a vulnerable person. “I am honored to represent Ms. Boyette in this case,” defense attorney Navarra Carr said. Conditions of a pretrial agreement were set that will result in the case being dismissed.

March 18 was intended as a fact finding hearing with a motion to revoke the pretrial agreement with conditions. The revocation was filed by probation officer Tracey Lake and prosecuting attorney Chris Ashcraft, believing Boyette was in non-compliance with the pretrial agreement. But progress was made outside of court, and Boyette updated the court during this hearing.

Ashcraft requested that the defendant state the expectations laid out in the agreement herself. Boyette explained she is expected to finish her last three months of high school while also attending Jamestown evaluations, participating in the Nest’s Owl 360 program, and starting her first job. 

Judge Walker said, “That sounds like a huge plateful, for anyone, but especially for a young person as yourself. I believe you can accomplish it, but I’d like to hear your plan.”

Boyette explained she plans to take Fridays off from school to attend counseling at Jamestown and take advantage of all their services in one day, arranging with the Jamestown shuttle for transportation if her foster mom is not available. She will connect with her school counselor to make sure she is on track for graduation.  

“I don’t want people to look at me as a kid who just doesn’t want to do things just because I don’t want to. I want to show them I do want to comply,” Boyette said. 

Having the choice to complete all her requirements in one day at Jamestown allows for more time in the week for Boyette to accomplish her goals for school and work. She is looking forward to the independent life skills training as part of an extended prosecution program (a blended sentencing system of both juvenile rehabilitation and a stayed adult sentence) to help her get her license and establish independent living. “If there are complications, I’ll be sure to contact Tracey [Lake],” Boyette assured the court.

“If no call comes in, we will schedule a court hearing immediately," Ashcraft warned. 

“All along what I’ve been looking for is to help Ms. Boyette, but also for compliance . . . I have some concerns. Time management is a struggle. Having her buy into her own program is huge. If there are mishaps we will come back to court to revoke and she will go to custody,” Lake said. 

Her review hearing is set for June 17 with a final hearing, potentially resulting in a dismissal, in January.