Judge teaches young inmates with gardens
SARASOTA (AP) – A Florida judge is helping rehabilitate juvenile offenders at a detention facility through a garden project.
Lake County Juvenile Court Judge Karen Lawson’s son spent time in a juvenile facility after his dad died. That’s why Lawson say she understands every kid deserves a second chance.
She took a grassy area at the facility and is teaching youths how to plant, weed and water this summer. Lawson has picked lettuce, broccoli, beans, radishes and other vegetables alongside the very youths she sentenced to the detention facility. Back in the cafeteria, the youths are taught how to make dishes like eggplant Parmesan using the items they grew.
The judge says “we think it is important for the kids to see that hard work can pay off.”