Andra Ackerman grew up in a broken home with an absent father and an addicted mother. From the age of 9, she struggled in multiple foster homes before ending up living with her biological sister. But thanks to what she calls “stepping stones,” or mentors, like a school guidance counselor, Ackerman is now an Albany County Court judge. 

Her background informed her decision to create U-Can, a youth diversion program she founded in 2016 when she worked as a City Court judge in Cohoes.

Ackerman told Capital Tonight that on her first day as a judge in Cohoes, she found that some of the defendants coming before her, “fit characteristics very similar to mine.”

“There was poverty. They felt worthless. Directionless. They were really, generally, angry at the world and there was this hopelessness that was just coming out before them,” she recalled. “I thought, ‘how is this person standing before me as a defendant while I’m a judge?’”

She realized these troubled youth, like herself, needed mentors — and an idea was born.

Ackerman, along with John Caher, a senior advisor with the New York State Unified Court System, created a youth diversion program called U-Can. 

They looked around for partners to help implement their vision and they found Matilda Cuomo’s program, New York State Mentoring.

“Initially, in (Cohoes) City Court, defendants would plead guilty to a felony, just initially, adjourning sentencing for a year. During that year, they would be required to meet with a mentor, one that is background checked and trained with New York State Mentoring, and matched, as best we could with the defendant,” explained Ackerman.

Each defendant is expected to meet weekly with both their mentor as well as a probation officer.

“They had a lot of requirements, but they had a lot of support through it. To get their GED, to get their driver’s license. To be employed. It was really this carrot-stick approach,” Ackerman said.

If the defendant successfully completes the program, he or she may withdraw their plea of guilty and leave without a criminal history. 

“We’ve had some really great successes,” Ackerman said. “When they complete the program, they are standing up straighter, they are looking me in the eye. They feel proud and they have self-confidence that they never had before.”

U-Can is now found in courts across the state including in Albany County Court, Albany County Family Court, Erie County courts, Warren County Family Court, Schenectady County Family Court and soon, in Syracuse City Courts. 

The program is supported by volunteers and uses no taxpayer money.