Joi (pronounced Joy) Torres is a case manager for the Duval County Teen Court.
FOR HOW LONG?
Four months.
WHAT ARE YOUR JOB DUTIES?
“I do intake interviews of juveniles and attend court proceedings. After a sentence is given, I make sure they follow up with the agreement and that everything runs smoothly. Then I close the case.”
WHAT ARE THE INTERVIEWS LIKE?
“I go over the charge. When the kids come here they have already pleaded guilty. I read the police report or civil citation, record their statement, tell them about Teen Court, what to expect and when to arrive at court. The only adults in the courtroom are the judge [acting as mediator] and myself. After they are on the stand and the case is heard, I give them a contract agreement for the parents and the juvenile to sign.”
WHAT SORTS OF AGREEMENTS ARE MADE?
“They usually consist of community service hours, jury duties, tours of the adult jail, curfews, mandatory counseling sessions, apology letters to the victim and essays or reports on a specific charge.”
WHAT HAPPENS IF THEY DON’T FOLLOW THROUGH?
“If they’re not following up with the agreement, the case can be sent back. If it was an arrest, it can be sent back to the State Attorney’s Office and discontinued with our program. If it’s a civil citation, the case can be sent back to the issuing officer and can turn into an arrest.”
WHAT CRIMES DO YOU SEE MOST?
“The number one offense is petty theft. Number two is trespassing, followed by fighting and possession of marijuana.”
WHAT DO YOU LIKE BEST ABOUT YOUR JOB?
“Most rewarding is being able to help kids turn their lives around. At first they have a bad attitude but once they are with the program, they begin to like it and even turn out as volunteers.”
THE HARD PART
“Most challenging is getting bad kids who are not willing to participate. Also, some parents are not willing to participate because they don’t understand we’re here to help the juvenile and help clear their records.”
HOMETOWN
Hinesville, Ga.
FAMILY
Mandarin is home to Torres, her husband Frank and their daughter Tayler. They moved to Jacksonville from Washington, D.C. five years ago.
EDUCATION
She attended Armstrong State College in Savannah, majoring in respiratory therapy. She plans to go back to school for a bachelor’s degree in either criminal justice or business.
WHY CONTINUE IN THE PENAL SYSTEM?
“I like working in the court system. It has sparked my interest and I am interested in learning all aspects.”
WHAT’S YOUR BACKGROUND?
“My past experience is in retail management. Retail was killing me. I was looking for a change of career. A friend told me about Teen Court. It was new then so I did some research. I like working with kids. It was a chance to get something out of my job and get these teens back on track.”
THINGS THAT BRING HER JOI
Reading upbeat books such as “Feeling Good,” a handbook on keeping your spirits up, is one of her outside activities. She also enjoys spending time with her family, especially taking her daughter to the park, dining on Japanese food or catching the television show, “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
— by Monica Chamness