Slay touts success of muni court program

St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay discusses the new Civil Liberties Jobs Program at a press conference Tuesday. The program seeks to help youth with municipal fines through work.  Antoine Wilhite and Larry Moore, standing to Slay’s right, are benefiting from the program.  Also pictured is Judge Gordon Schweitzer of St. Louis City Municipal Court.  Photo by Karen Elshout

Antoine Wilhite, 24, appreciated the help he received from The Civil Liberties Jobs Program, he told an assembled crowd at a press conference Tuesday.  Pictured with him, from left, are St. Louis Mayor Francis Slay, SLATE Director Michael Holmes, and Larry Moore, another beneficiary.  Photo by Karen Elshout

Catrina Brimer waves to the crowd during a press conference Tuesday. Brimer, a clerical supervisor in the St. Louis courts, initiated the idea for the Civil Liberties Jobs Program. The program seeks to allow people ages 16 to 24 pay off their municipal fines through work. Brimer was introduced by program director Dr. Alice Prince, right.  Photo by Karen Elshout

Antoine Wilhite, 24, sweeps up at the Demetrious Johnson Center in St. Louis Wednesday morning.  He is participating in the Civil Liberties Jobs Program to pay off his traffic citation.  Photo by Karen Elshout

Antoine Wilhite, 24, works a custodial job at the Demetrious Johnson Center in St. Louis Wednesday morning.  The Civil Liberties Jobs Program is allowing Wilhite to pay off a traffic citation through work.  Photo by Karen Elshout