Pictured from left: Angel, David, Marquise, Professor Elizabeth Cauffman, Judge Maria Hernandez, Sam, Erik and Vincent.
Young Adult Court celebrates latest graduates
Halloween brought treats, not tricks, as Orange County Superior Court Judge Maria D. Hernandez presided over a courtroom celebration unlike any typical court proceeding. Instead of handing down sentences, she delivered six life-changing gifts: the erasure of felony convictions from the records of young adults who had successfully completed Orange County's Young Adult Court program.
The graduation brought the program's total number of graduates to 52 since its inception seven years ago. But the numbers only tell part of the story. The real measure of success was evident in the voices of the six graduates who stood before the court to share their journeys of transformation.
From Desperation to Determination
For Sam, Young Adult Court was a last-minute lifeline. He had been dealing with his case for more than a year and was ready to accept 160 days in county jail, a felony, and a strike just to end the ordeal.
“On the day I was going to accept the deal to take the felony just to get it all over with, my attorney explained that there was a newer program that would leave me eligible to have my felony taken off my record,” Sam recalled. After being randomly selected for the program, his skepticism gradually transformed into gratitude.
“I thought the Young Adult Court was going to be another ordinary probation program, but as I progressed through the different stages, I noticed how the Young Adult Court team as well as my probation officer really cared about my progress and well-being,” he said.
Now felony-free, Sam is eager to pursue job opportunities that were previously closed to him.
“I'm excited to see what the future holds for me now being felony free,” he told the court. “I truly feel motivated and eager to see what I can do with my life.”
Erik stood before Judge Hernandez as a husband, father, and newly certified barber — a career made possible by Young Adult Court’s financial support for his tuition.
His schedule during the program was grueling: waking at 4 a.m. to work until 8 a.m., rushing home to shower, then attending barber school from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. With only two days off each week, exhaustion was constant. But he never gave up.
“On Oct. 10, I officially graduated from barber school. That was one of the proudest moments of my life,” Erik said, his voice filled with emotion.
Beyond tuition assistance, the program provided groceries, rent support, and unforgettable family experiences.
“The Disneyland trip meant the world to me. Being there with my wife and kids, seeing their smiles, and sharing that day together — that was truly unforgettable,” he shared.
His message to others facing similar challenges was clear: “To anyone out there who’s ever felt like they messed up too bad to come back from it, I'm proof that it’s never too late to change. Stay focused, stay humble, and keep pushing forward.”
Vincent also discovered a new career path through the program. With funding from Young Adult Court, he attended music school and now is a certified DJ who has already booked several gigs.
“I am now a certified DJ and have already gotten several gigs in the last few months. That was something I never thought I'd be able to do,” he said. “If someone asked me what you really get out of this program, I'd say you gain a second chance — a chance to rebuild, to reset, and to grow in a way that makes your future look different than your past.”
More Than Probation: A Support System
What distinguished Young Adult Court from traditional probation, graduates emphasized, was the genuine care and comprehensive support they received.
David, who has worked at Ralphs for seven years, credited his therapist Alex, who he dubbed “Alex The Awesome Therapist,” with transforming his Thursday sessions into something he looked forward to each week.
“We would meet almost every Thursday to talk about my week and maybe anything that has been stressful,” David said. “Some weeks we would just sit and talk about the good things in life and Thursday was a day I always looked forward to.”
David, who had struggled with drinking before entering the program, found healthier outlets through program activities.
“I was being invited to go to different events, like Ducks or Angels games. It was super cool because I was always able to bring a few family members along with me,” he said.
Now, David looks forward to shopping for a new truck, spending more time with his dogs at the beach, and possibly becoming a peer mentor to give back to the program that changed his life.
Angel, who had been charged with grand theft auto and driving without a license, was initially skeptical about the program.
“At first I was a bit skeptical when joining the program, almost like what it was offered was too good to be true,” he admitted.
But the financial literacy courses, support in obtaining his driver's license, and help securing employment proved transformative.
“This program has so many resources and genuine people who care and I would like to say that this Young Adult Court does work in rehabilitating young adults and showing them a better chapter. I'm living proof,” Angel declared.
His next chapter includes plans to move to Oregon to strengthen his bond with his father.
Angel’s advice to future participants: “You must make an effort. The quality of the result will depend on the quality of the input.”
For Marquise and his son, the Young Adult Court-sponsored trip to Disneyland marked a milestone neither had experienced before — their first visit to the theme park together.
“One of my favorite memories included going to Disneyland with the Young Adult Court. It was my son and my own first time ever going,” Marquise shared.
Despite working two full-time jobs while in the program, he made it a priority to come into Orangewood regularly and take advantage of available services.
Now working in a program where he mentors young kids, Marquise hopes to give back in the way he wished he had received support.
His advice to current participants reflected the perseverance that carried him through: “Yesterday is not today. Keep showing up for yourself. You can get a new outlook on life, resources, things you never thought possible, opportunity to breathe, and blessings while you are here.”
Science Meets the Streets
Young Adult Court was created seven years ago through a collaboration between Judge Hernandez; Elizabeth Cauffman, UC Irvine professor of psychology; Cauffman's former postdoctoral student Zachary Rowan, now 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.
The program serves first-time felony offenders between ages 18 and 25, offering them a chance to have their charges reduced to misdemeanors or completely dismissed upon graduation from the two-year 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.”
What makes the program unique is its foundation in developmental science.
“This brings science to the streets. This court is developmentally appropriate and helps change lives for the better,” Cauffman says.
Preliminary results from Cauffman’s ongoing research show the court is making a measurable difference in participants’ lives, a conclusion echoed in every graduate's speech on that Halloween afternoon.
As the six graduates left Judge Hernandez’s courtroom with their records cleared and their futures open, their stories served as powerful testimony to the program’s impact, Cauffman said.
“They spoke of driver’s licenses obtained, careers launched, therapy embraced, financial literacy gained, and family bonds strengthened. But, perhaps most importantly, they spoke of something less tangible but equally transformative: the experience of being believed in, supported, and given a genuine second chance,” she said.
“Young Adult Court gives you the tools. It's up to you to use them,” Vincent told his fellow participants still in the program. It was a message all six graduates embodied as they stepped into their new chapters, felony-free and full of possibility.
— Mimi Ko Cruz