High school girls who are interested in the criminal justice system can get an inside view during the 2013 Summer Mentoring Initiative in Legal Education, (SMILE) program sponsored by DeKalb State Court Judge Stacey Hydrick.

The six-week mentoring program takes place May 21 to July 26 but the application deadline is April 5 and space is limited to 14 participants in grades nine through 12.

This is the second year of the program, which Hyrdick launched last year. Participants observe court trials and toured county agencies in the justice department and the county jail and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The group meets weekly on Fridays in the DeKalb County Judicial Tower, and participants must have transportation. The tower is located at 556 N. McDonough St. in Decatur.

Participants interact with employees from State Court, the solicitor’s office, district attorney’s office, public defender’s office, probation, State Court clerk’s office, Magistrate court, Juvenile Court, the Women’s Resource Center, Georgia Legal Aid and private practice attorneys.

For applications and more information, contact Samantha Whaley at swhaley@dekalbcountyga.gov or 404-371-2350.