The Missouri Supreme Court’s Committee on Civic Education seeks applicants to prove their skills investigating, reporting and trying a crime that hasn’t yet happened.
The crime won’t ever happen, technically, but The Constitution Project puts select high school students from around the state to the test in their abilities to process and handle a mock crime scene and its effects, from the perspectives of crime scene investigation, journalism and trial advocacy.
Students work under the mentorship of local professionals in those three fields during a competition in the fall that culminates with championship rounds in Jefferson City.
“The Constitution Project gives high school students exciting, hands-on experience in possible future careers that are integral to our constitution and our nation’s system of justice,” Texas County Associate Circuit Judge Doug Gaston said in a news release.
Gaston started The Constitution Project seven years ago at Houston High School, and the competition went statewide in 2013. The Missouri Highway Patrol, Missouri Sheriff’s Association, Missouri Police Chiefs Association, Missouri Press Association, Missouri Broadcasters Association and The Missouri Bar are some of the competition’s statewide cosponsors.
“It is a fun and meaningful experience not only for the students but also for the professionals who help guide the teams from the local level right up through the state finals. Every year, I always am amazed by the competitors’ talent and efforts, and I am gratified when they begin to see the impact the constitution has on our daily lives,” Gaston said in the news release.
Competitors are chosen to participate based on “merit and their interest in the three disciplines. To be chosen, each community must pledge commitments from the school, local judges, law enforcement, media and attorneys,” according to the release.
Winners are named at the team and individual levels for each of the three disciplines. Individual winners receive scholarships from sponsors — last year, the scholarships were worth $1,000.
Approximately 300 students from 12 schools competed last year, and finalists in the championship rounds in Jefferson City last fall included students from Camdenton and Fulton.
Students last year were tasked to investigate, report on and prosecute or defend suspects in a made-up Missouri State Penitentiary murder case.
The students also got a chance to participate in mock House and Senate debates at the state Capitol.
Selection preference will be given to applications received no later than May 30. The application is available at courts.mo.gov/file.jsp?id=64557.
More information about The Constitution Project is available at courts.mo.gov/CivicEducation/constitutionproject/.