Elizabeth Cauffman, left, congratulates Sam Solorio for graduating from Young Adult Court. Judge Maria Hernandez, below, speaks to the graduates. Photos by Han Parker
Young Adult Court celebrates 16th graduation
Dressed in a suit and tie and holding his head up high, Sam Solorio walked into court for the last time on March 21.
The day marked the 23-year-old's final hearing in Orange County Young Adult Court, when he became the 46th graduate of the innovative program.
Solorio was showered with praise from his attorney, the District Attorney’s office, his Orangewood Foundation case worker, counselor and Judge Maria D. Hernandez for enthusiastically embracing the program and finishing with a new outlook on life.
Before Judge Hernandez dismissed his felony and cleared his record, the grateful Solorio testified:
Good afternoon everyone,
First and foremost, I want to thank God for the great opportunity and path he has put me on. Today, I stand with a heart full of appreciation for the entire Young Adult Court. I want to give a big thanks to Lorenzo, Alex, Chrisitine, Javier, Jessica, Serenity, Derek, Dr. Cauffman and the entire Orange County Young Adult Court and of course the Honorable Judge Hernandez.
Young Adult Court didn’t just offer me a second chance. It gave me a family and a shoulder I can lean on, through one of the darkest times of my life. YAC also gave me the guidance, and the support to turn my life around and build a future that I once thought was out of reach.
Before entering this program I was in a very dark hole, fighting a control substance sales case. I was lost and uncertain for my future, I vividly remember being incarcerated and torn apart and all my ambition out the door instantly. I remember those 10 months going in and out of courtrooms not being able to even think clearly. I was unmotivated and depressed.
Throughout these 10 months, I was completely lost not doing anything productive, but one thing I did not lose was my faith. This made me closer to God and I asked him for guidance. After 10 months of going through the court system, I was offered many deals. I remember going to the preliminary hearing and my public defender at the West court demanding I take the felony and two months in jail and telling me, “this is the best deal you’re going to get.” Being the hard-headed person I am, I denied it and got ready for trial at the Central Court. I was ready to go to trial and easily come out with a misdemeanor, thinking my life will be fine.
A few months go by and l get a call from my new public defender telling me, “I have good news and bad news.” I asked for the bad news first. He said the bad news is an offer of no time but with a felony on my record and the good news is an offer to join a program called Young Adult Court that his boss Frank works at. I was skeptical because I had to plead to a felony but if I do good in the program, I can get my whole case dismissed. I instantly tied this to my faith knowing that this is the path I requested and instantly joined the Young Adult Court. At the time, a friend of mine that was in the same case as me went to do an interview at Orangewood. He got denied and I got accepted. There and then, I knew this was for me yet I was still skeptical and unsure.
The first person I met was Lorenzo, my first case manager introducing me to the program and explaining to me all the resources and support I have. I was amazed and overwhelmed by how much support I was offered. Ever since joining YAC, every therapy session, every check-in, and every lesson along the way reminded me that I wasn’t alone in this journey. The support I received not only helped me stay on the right path but also gave me a purpose to keep striving, to stay positive, and to build a life that reflects the growth and transformation I’ve experienced.One of the greatest achievements I’ve accomplished through this journey is obtaining my Commercial Driver’s License. This program pointed me toward a career that they fully funded and got me employed which is where I am currently working and has allowed me to take the right steps toward a stable and fulfilling profession. Today, I’m proud to say that I am a dedicated CDL driver, traveling the country, working hard, and building a future I can be proud of.
Beyond career success, Young Adult Court provided me with something just as important — a healthier mindset. Through therapy with Alex, mentorships, and the many activities offered, I learned how to process my emotions, handle challenges, and stay focused on my goals. YAC helped me break through mental barriers that once held me back, replacing them with confidence, self-worth, and a drive to keep me pushing forward.
To the entire Young Adult Court team, Judge Hernandez, the mentors, counselors, and every individual who has dedicated their time to this program, God bless you all and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have changed lives, including mine. You have shown me that my past does not define me, but rather, my choices moving forward do.
My advice to those who are just starting their journey here, I want to leave you with this: embrace this opportunity, trust the process, and believe in yourself. This program is not just about fulfilling court requirements, it’s about changing your life. And, if you put in the effort and stay committed, you will come out stronger than you have ever imagined.
Today, I walk away not just with a CDL, not just with a clear mind, but with a future that is bright and full of possibilities. Thank you, Orange County Young Adult Court, for believing in me when I struggled to believe in myself. Because of you, I am on the road toward success.
Thank you, everyone!
Solorio was among eight participants who became the latest graduates of the innovative court.
Young Adult Court is a collaborative court for felony offenders between the ages of 18 and 25. It was created through the efforts of Judge Hernandez; Elizabeth Cauffman, UC Irvine professor of psychological science; Cauffman’s former postdoctoral student Zachary Rowan, who now is a faculty member at Simon Fraser University in Canada; the Orange County Probation Department; the Orange County Public Defender and Defense Bar; Orange County District Attorney’s Office; and the Orangewood Foundation.
One of the most consequential incentives of participating in Young Adult Court is the reduction of a felony charge to a misdemeanor or the complete dismissal of the felony charge when participants graduate from the program.
“The goal of the two-year program is to have these young men put their lives back on track and serve justice,” Cauffman explains. “They’re held accountable for their crimes. They have to pay restitution and they have to work hard in the program in order to earn a felony-free record.”
The court bridges science with practice, she adds. “This brings science to the streets. This court is developmentally appropriate and helps change lives for the better.”
Cauffman has been studying the court since she co-created it seven years ago. Preliminary results are showing that the court is making a difference.
— Mimi Ko Cruz
Related:
Orange County Register: Groundbreaking criminal justice starts in Santa Ana courtroom
Young Adult Court provides second chance
Cauffman, Hernandez honored for collaboration
Reimagining the justice system
Young Adult Court graduates 4 more
UCI awarded $10.1 million to expand OC Young Adult Court study
NIJ funds UCI evaluation of new Orange County Jail program
OC Young Adult Court celebrates 4th graduation