Coeur d’Alene Charter Academy students celebrate Law Day

COEUR d’ALENE — Charter Academy eighth graders got an up-close look at Kootenai County’s criminal justice system Wednesday.

During an event at the juvenile justice center in downtown Coeur d’Alene, students heard from judges, prosecutors, public defenders and court staff, as well as probation and parole officers who work with people who have been released from jail.

The event was part of Law Day, which celebrates the rule of law each May 1.

“This is an opportunity to educate the community on what it is that we do,” said First District Judge Mayli Walsh. “The kids can see the level of dedication and how hard they work to protect the community.”

The speakers emphasized their passion for their work.

“I love my job,” public defender Addie Beplate told the students. “I represent people from all walks of life. It’s pretty interesting getting to know people and work with them.”

Beplate said she hoped to share the importance of public defense with students.

“I didn’t grow up understanding how the criminal justice system works,” she said. “I didn’t meet a public defender until I was in college. I want to encourage people to consider working in criminal justice, especially public defense.”

Prosecuting attorney Julia Schoffstall described how her office works closely with police, witnesses, experts and defense attorneys in order to resolve cases. She said prosecutors don’t represent their own interests but rather the interests of the state.

“We have to look at cases for what’s right for our community, which can be a heavy role sometimes,” she said.

Most cases are resolved through a plea agreement, Schoffstall said, which might include stipulations that a person pays a fine, does community service or attends classes or counseling.

“We’re not just about trying to put people in jail,” Schoffstall said.

Juvenile probation supervisor Loni Whiteman told the students about her work with children throughout the county who are around their age. She said it’s important for children and teens to understand how the criminal justice system works.

“My biggest goal is to help kids so they don’t get to the adult system,” she said.

Haley Rose is a probation officer who works with some of the more than 2,000 felony probationers in Kootenai County. She is also the probation officer for the county’s mental health court, a voluntary post-conviction program for controlled substance offenders who live with persistent mental illness.

The intensive mental health court program consists of close supervision by a mental health professional, frequent appearances before a judge, mandatory counseling, substance abuse treatment and random drug testing.

Rose said the stakes are high for the probationers she supervises. But that makes it all the more rewarding when she can help them make progress.

“I wake up every day and get to help folks be successful, get them to remain sober, live in recovery, reunite with their kiddos, buy a house,” she said. “Those are all the exciting things I get to celebrate while I get to hold them accountable.”

    Students met Huckleberry, a support dog who helps probationers involved in mental health court.