for re-election
Larry Kline
Havre Daily News
lkline@havredailynews.com
Havre City Judge Joyce Perszyk said her job has been fulfilling and allows her to make a difference in the lives of adults and youths in the community. She filed for the Nov. 8 election on Friday, seeking a third four-year term.
"It's a fascinating field," she said. "Every day is different. The people are different. The cases are different. Nothing is routine."
She said she loves working with teens, whom she usually sees for traffic offenses or underage possession of alcohol and tobacco.
"I like working with the kids," Perszyk said. "I don't think there ever was a kid that came in here that I didn't like. Sometimes they are a challenge, but there's hope for all kids. Everybody makes mistakes. Sometimes they just take longer to learn their lessons. Sometimes the parents aren't involved in their lives. I might be the only adult they talk to in their lives."
Perszyk may only see a person once. Other offenders come before her time and again.
"For some of them, I've known them for half their lives," she said. "There isn't too much they can hide from the court. I know them, their families, their situations. Some of them slide backwards, and some of them you don't see again unless you see them at the grocery store."
Perszyk said she believes all judges have the opportunity to make a difference in someone's life. Many of the offenses she deals with require the person to seek counseling or treatment. At times it can be a challenge to get the person to go, but in many instances it helps adults and teenagers choose a different path in life, she said. The effects of such a change can resonate through the person's family and their community, she added.
"When they get (to counseling or treatment), their lives are better, and their families' lives are better," she said. "The more you can do to rehabilitate a person, the more you can get them to follow through, the better off everybody is."
There are a few items on Perszyk's agenda.
She wants to find a way to make up for the loss of the community service program available through the District IV Human Resources Development Council. Perszyk recently learned that the agency will no longer receive grant funding to administer the program, which lets offenders work off all or part of their fines by helping others. She plans to ask the Havre City Council to support a measure that would pay for a new employee to manage the program at the City Court office. The current grant funding ends July 1.
Losing the program "is going to be devastating for the court," Perszyk said. "There are really good success stories, where people have turned themselves around through community service."
She is also considering the possibility of holding night court sessions - in addition to the daytime sessions - in order to handle her increasing caseload, Perszyk said. The evening sessions would also make court appointments less disruptive for working adults, she said.
"I'm open to doing it differently," Persyzk said.
Persyzk is the first person to file for the nonpartisan position. It pays $33,010. work off all or part of their fines by helping others. She plans to ask the Havre City Council to support a measure that would pay for a new employee to manage the program at the City Court office. The current grant funding ends July 1.
Losing the program "is going to be devastating for the court," Perszyk said. "There are really good success stories, where people have turned themselves around through community service."
She is also considering the possibility of holding night court sessions - in addition to the daytime sessions - in order to handle her increasing caseload, Perszyk said. The evening sessions would also make court appointments less disruptive for working adults, she said.
"I'm open to doing it differently," Persyzk said.
Persyzk is the first person to file for the nonpartisan position. It pays $33,010.
