Our Court Visitors Program is one of the most positive and rewarding experiences that a court can give young students. Most youths only exposure to the judicial system is through watching Judges Judy, Joe Brown, or others on television. In contrast, visiting 36th District Court is their first experience in a "real" court environment. In meeting a Judge, or in seeing the court as an integral part of the criminal justice system.

Rose Williams is the contact person and coordinator for groups interested in participating in the program. For security reasons, the detention areas are not included in the program nor are students taken on a tour.

Visitors are encouraged to visit the court on Tuesdays, Wednesdays or Thursdays between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. On-demand or short notice site visits are not available as all visitors must be scheduled in advance to allow for security clearance in entering the building, room reservations, and courtroom availability. After arrival, visitors are escorted to the Training Department where a Detroit Police Department (DPD) official gives an overview of the function of the DPD Court Services Section and the responsibilities that police officers have in the court process. They are also informed what to expect and learn about courtroom decorum for their visit to a court session. If the docket permits, they may be invited to an impromptu mock trial.

Hundreds of students have participated in the program. Visitors were from:

- Wolverine Human Services in Detroit, an at-risk youth facility
- Academy of the Sacred Heart in West Bloomfield
- Wayne Elementary School in Detroit
- Several Other Detroit Public Schools

At the end of each visit, students receive a Certificate of Participation issued by the Judge whom they appeared before. Interested parties may call (313) 965-3885 for more information or to reserve a date.