Sarasota attorney gives back to court program that saved him

Stefan Campagna’s law career began in the courtroom — not as an attorney but rather as a defendant. 

He was facing a jury of his peers, which in this case were fellow teenage offenders tasked with deciding what kind of penalty they would impose on the 16-year-old Campagna.

The Sarasota native ended up behind bars following a spree of breaking into cars and stealing anything of value. He was charged with 27 felonies, including one charge for taking a stolen vehicle for a joy ride. 

His court date was with the Teen Court of Sarasota, a youth jury program that employs diversion opportunities for juvenile offenders and opportunities for civic engagement for student volunteers.

Campagna, now 36, credits his experience in teen court, and the adults who oversee it, with putting him on the track for personal and professional success. 

Not only has he built a career in criminal law, but he is also dedicated to giving back to the program that saved him by serving on the teen court’s board of directors and by volunteering as a judge, which is the only adult role during teen court proceedings. He also serves as the program administrator for the National Association of Youth Courts.

“Honestly I fell into that behavior the same way I think that most every teenager does — just poor decision-making,” Campagna said. “For lack of a better term, being an idiot in the moment.”

Campagna could have blamed his life situation for his troubles. Along with a younger brother, he grew up raised by a single mother living in a small apartment. He could have said he fell in with the wrong crowd. 

Instead, teen court held him accountable for his actions. Now as a criminal attorney often defending youths in juvenile court, he said those found guilty in the system need to be held accountable as well.

“A lot of people like to blame it on divorced parents or bad friends, but poor decision making is why many kids fall under that same umbrella," he said. "I'm sure their lack of decision making is probably a product of their environment, but what we need to focus on is how do we improve the decisions.”

Campagna’s desire to give back is rooted in the support network that surrounded him inside and outside of teen court. 

He credits the principal at the time at Pine View School, Steve Largo, with allowing him to remain enrolled and to eventually graduate. He also cites Heather Todd, the executive director of Teen Court of Sarasota, who was his case worker at the time, along with then-executive director Katie Self and his mother, Maria, for keeping him on the right path.

That path led to a degree from University of Central Florida and then, after a year off while working for Sarasota County, he went to the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University in New York. 

Although his record had been expunged with successful completion of his teen court sanctions, Campagna’s brush with the law and teen court experience was the focus of his application essay. 

And a scholarship.

Campagna said without the scholarship and admission to law school, he wouldn't have been able to make the most of his second chance by starting his own law practice and having a positive influence on kids who are in the legal system. 

While at Hofstra, Campagna did some public speaking about teen court and was allowed to start a program in New York, which had none at the time. Eventually, it was two women who would lead him to return to his hometown — his mother and wife, Camile.

That family now includes a son, 5, and daughter, 3.  “They've been raised here in Sarasota and I think they are better off for it,” he said.

Returning to Sarasota, becoming involved in teen court was never in question. 

Over the past decade, Campagna has guest lectured at high schools, colleges and governmental and community-based forums across the country. He served as a panel member at the American Bar Association’s 2011 Mid-Year Meeting, during which he advocated the successful passage of the ABA Resolution in Support of Youth Courts.

He said teen court participants are offered a second chance with continued support beyond conclusion of the program.

“A lot of times if you give somebody a second chance, especially in the criminal arena, they just go right back to what they were doing because that's what they know,” Campagna said. “So instead of just saying, here's your second chance, go on out there and try and figure it out by yourself, they’re also given the resources to take advantage of that second chance.

individuals who have been accused of misdemeanor and felony crimes in criminal and juvenile courts. The rate of recidivism in teen court, he said, is far lower than those adjudicated in juvenile court.