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According to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice 2023 Annual report, the average age of youth in the state's criminal justice system is 17. (Adobe Stock)

IL juvenile justice court alternative proves successful

Anyone age 18 or younger accused of violating Illinois law, who has formal charges filed against them, has historically had their case tried in a …

A U.S. Department of Justice report noted 20% of the staff sexual misconduct occurred in a correction facility's cell, its commissary, cafeteria, or workshop. (Adobe Stock)

IL juvenile justice group says lawsuit addresses years of abuse

A lawsuit filed this month against the Illinois Departments of Corrections and Juvenile Justice might help tip the scales for legislation pending in S…

An Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission year-end report said 388 youths, male and female, were admitted into juvenile detention centers as of December 2023. (Adobe Stock)

Digital court hearings cause uneasiness for young offenders

Online conferencing was a lifeline for school lessons and business meetings during the pandemic. However, there is concern about the effects of …

Eight objectives in a report by European juvenile-justice groups include encouraging the adoption of age-appropriate alternatives to isolation and preventing tensions between peers and detention center staff. (Adobe Stock)

A push to end solitary confinement in IL for young offenders

There is growing concern over what happens to young offenders in Illinois as they await their first court hearing. A report by European juvenile-…

The Education Data Initiative predicts the average yearly cost of law school tuition between 2024 and 2025 will be nearly $52,000. (Adobe Stock)

A lack of attorneys creates 'legal deserts' in rural IL counties

Labor shortages exist across the country in the medical and teaching professions but not as much is said about the lack of attorneys in some states…

A 2019 report by the Cook County Advisory Board called for the end of punitive room confinement but Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice officials found in 2022, the disciplinary measure is still used. (Adobe Stock)

Summit paints grim picture of IL juvenile detention centers

At a Wednesday summit, advocates for juvenile justice reform took up the most recent slate of complaints about Illinois' juvenile detention centers…

This year Illinois lawmakers passed a bill ending life sentences without parole for people in Illinois who were under 21 when they were arrested. (Adobe Stock)

More work needed on juvenile justice reform

Advocates for juvenile justice reform recently gathered in Chicago to find ways to keep young people out of the criminal justice system. Herschella …

The New York Times reports six of the nine deadliest mass shootings in the United States since 2018 were by people who were 21 or younger, a shift from earlier decades. (Adobe Stock)

IL Works to Take Youth into Account in Life Sentences

It's only been a few months since Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill ending life sentences without parole for people in Illinois who were under 21 when …

Young people who are adjudicated as delinquent may be placed in multiple types of facilities, from youth prisons and detention centers, to residential treatment facilities or group homes. (Jan H. Andersen/Adobe Stock)

IL Sees Significant Long-Term Decline in Youth Incarcerations

Illinois is seeing a steady drop in youth arrests and therefore, fewer adolescents locked up in juvenile and adult detention facilities. Josh Rovner…

Illinois had almost 1,000 juveniles incarcerated in adult correctional facilities in 2021, at an annual cost of almost $33 million, according to a Human Rights for Kids report. (napatacha/Adobe Stock)

IL Lawmakers Pass Bill to Prevent Unfair Youth Sentencing

Illinois could soon be the fourth state to pass a law to prevent unfair youth sentencing. The legislation encourages criminal courts to recognize …

For the first time since 1998, the State of Illinois has updated the County Detention Standards for juvenile detention centers to reflect current best practices. (Adobe Stock)

Officials Hold First-Ever Review of IL Pretrial Juvenile Detention System

Attorneys, state employees and juvenile justice reform advocates will gather virtually Friday to receive updates on county pretrial juvenile …

Backers of the Workers' Rights Amendment, approved by voters in 2022, say it will put an end to the existing gaps and exclusions in labor laws by guaranteeing union rights for all Illinois workers. (WH_pics/Adobe Stock)

New Year Brings Wide Variety of New Illinois State Laws

It's a new year, and more than 180 new laws are going into effect, which Illinoisans need to know about. The 2022 General Assembly passed bills …

By diverting juveniles away from detention, Redeploy Illinois estimates it has saved the state $158 million, tax money that would have otherwise been spent on incarceration costs. (gorodenkoff/Adobe Stock)

Redeploy Illinois: A Model for Juvenile Justice Reform

Redeploy Illinois is a community-based alternative to incarceration, which keeps kids in their home communities. For decades, most youthful …

The Lake County Gun Violence Prevention Initiative is partnering with community groups to interrupt cycles of gun violence. (Adobe Stock)<br />

IL Leaders to Issue Call to Action Over Youth Gun Violence, Mental Health

State and local leaders are joining community groups for a call to action this weekend to draw attention to efforts to support at-risk youth in Illino…

Juvenile detentions dropped dramatically nationwide during the early part of the pandemic, but numbers have bounced back up, especially for African American youth. (Sakhorn38/Adobe Stock)

IL Juvenile Justice Groups Press to Raise Age for Pre-trial Detention

Currently, children as young as 10 are held behind bars while awaiting trial in Illinois, and now, juvenile justice reform groups are calling for the …

In a study of roughly 2,400 students spanning three years, a University of Pittsburgh study found more than a quarter of all Black students faced disciplinary actions for

Advocate: IL Schools Should Adopt Restorative-Justice Policies

The start of the fall semester is just around the corner for Illinois students. As children return to class, one advocate is urging school …

The Illinois Juvenile Justice Department operates five facilities across the state. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Juvenile Justice Officials Undercount Incarcerated Kids

A new report revealed in 2019, young people in the United States were locked up in juvenile facilities nearly a quarter million times, and current …

A 2020 report from the Brennan Center notes that

IL Advocates, Lawmakers Call for Ending Virtual Hearings in Juvenile Court

At the beginning of the pandemic, Illinois transitioned most of its court operations online. Now, two years later, advocates and lawmakers are …

The Northern Ireland Department of Justice reports that, from April 2020 to April 2021, there were 2,267 cases of kids coming into contact with the criminal-justice system, down from 2,723 in 2019-2020. (Adobe Stock)

For IL Juvenile-Justice Reform, Irish Approach Seen as Model

As lawmakers in Illinois and across the nation consider reforms to the nation's juvenile-justice system, one country across the Atlantic could serve …

Studies have shown defendants are more likely to have judges set higher bail amounts when their hearings are conducted by video. (Rawf8/Adobe Stock)

Groups: Remote Court Hearings Compromise Attorney-Client Relationships

As the court system works to catch up from pandemic disruptions, many courts continue to use remote technology or are testing new ways to incorporate …

Black youths are disproportionately impacted by the lack of a minimum age for criminal responsibility in Illinois; 60% to 62% of kids age 10 to 13 who are arrested are Black. (md3d/Adobe Stock)

IL Experts Join World Congress on Justice with Children

CHICAGO -- At this week's World Congress on Justice with Children, Illinois experts and researchers shared ways the U.S. could work to get back in …

Illinois raised the age for charging juveniles as adults in misdemeanor cases in 2009, and for felony cases in 2013. (zimmytws/Adobe Stock)

Fewer IL Youth in Prison Since Raising Criminal-Responsibility Age

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- The number of kids and teens behind bars has decreased since Illinois raised the age of criminal responsibility from 17 to 18…

More than 450 students have completed the Curt's Caf� three-month workforce training and life-skills curriculum. (ibravery/Adobe Stock)

Groups Urge Training, Mentoring Programs Over Youth Incarceration

EVANSTON, Ill. -- Juvenile-justice reform groups say helping young people with work and life-skills training reduces recidivism more effectively than …

The bill to ban deception in juvenile interrogations was passed unanimously by the Illinois State Senate. (Nick Youngson/Pix4free)

Illinois to Be First to Ban Deception in Interrogations of Juveniles

CHICAGO - Illinois is set to become the first state to prohibit the use of deception by law enforcement in interrogations of juveniles. Laura …

In the last decade, three of the Illinois Youth Center sites have closed. Groups that advocate against youth incarceration want the remaining five facilities to follow suit. (methaphum/Adobe Stock)

Interactive Tool Illustrates Incarceration's Impact on Young People

CLARIFICATION: The name of the organization that developed the tool, Performing Statistics, was added. (1:45 p.m. MST, May 20, 2021) CHICAGO - …

Juvenile defenders say in-person meetings are critical for building trust and strong relationships with their clients. (ijeab/Adobe Stock)

Report: For Kids, Virtual Court Hearings Put Legal Rights at Risk

CHICAGO -- As courts across the country consider whether to continue holding hearings remotely post-pandemic, juvenile-justice advocates are asking …

In 2019, about 76,000 children were prosecuted in the adult system, and more than 80% of them were racial minorities, according to a report from Human Rights for Kids. (chatiyanon/Adobe Stock)

Federal Bill Would Make Juvenile-Justice System More Fair, Age-Appropriate

CHICAGO -- A bipartisan group of federal lawmakers will introduce a package of bills to make the way children and teens are treated in the federal cri…

18-year-olds who commit misdemeanors are currently charged in adult court, but a bill seeks to change that. (chatiyanon/Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Raise Age For Misdemeanor Cases In Juvenile Court

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A bill pending in the Illinois House of Representatives would bring misdemeanor cases against older teenagers to juvenile court …

In 2020, nearly 60 kids younger than age 13 were detained in the Illinois juvenile-justice system. (cookcountyil.gov)

Report: Too Many IL Kids Detained Pre-Trial During Pandemic

CHICAGO - Illinois criminal-justice reform groups are urging legislative action to keep children and teens out of detention before their trials…

A human rights report gives Illinois 3.5 points out of 10 for how kids are treated in the criminal-justice system. (AdobeStock)

Report: IL Out of Step on Juvenile-Justice Protections

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Advocates say Illinois and many other states are out of step with other developed countries when it comes to the treatment of …

In Illinois, Black men ages 18 to 24 are nine times more likely to be jailed than their white peers. (Adobe Stock)

Criminal Justice Report: 18-Year-Olds Don't Belong in Adult Court

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A new report puts some weight behind arguments that young adults should not be prosecuted in adult court in Illinois. The …

Pre-trial juvenile detentions in Illinois fell 19% between March and April. (AdobeStock)

Data Shows Dozens of Pre-Teen Illinois Kids Detained in 2020

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Juvenile-justice advocates say Illinois is failing its children by allowing kids as young as 10 years old to be locked-up …

Research shows that automatic transfer laws disproportionately impact youth of color. (AdobeStock)

Case to End Automatic Adult Court Trial of Juveniles

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- New research suggests that, if given time for proper review, Illinois could greatly reduce the number of juvenile cases that are …

With the right to a speedy trial suspended in Illinois during the COVID-19 outbreak, advocates say youths being held in pre-trial detention should be released. (AdobeStock)

New Call for Action to Protect Kids Awaiting Trial in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- There's a new call to better protect children awaiting trial in Illinois during the COVID-19 outbreak. A number of organizations …

Criminal-justice groups say managing a highly contagious diseases such as coronavirus in prisons and detention centers is extremely difficult. (Adobe Stock)

Pleading for Release of Incarcerated Kids in Illinois

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- As state officials continually review and implement measures to reduce the spread of the new coronavirus, criminal justice …

A global study confirms that the United States has the highest child-incarceration rate in the world. (Adobe Stock)

Does U.S. Juvenile Justice System Fall Short on Basic Human Rights?

CHICAGO - As the world marks the 30th anniversary of the United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child, local leaders and experts in Illinois …

Researchers say criminalizing children can cause long-term harm to their overall development. (kayasit/Adobe Stock)

Fundamental Fairness: Troubled Youths Need Better Protections

CHICAGO – More than a century after the world's first juvenile court was established in Illinois, advocates are still fighting to ensure that …

There was a 5% drop in the number of youth admitted to juvenile detention in Illinois from 2016 to 2017. (Jan H. Anderson/Adobe Stock)

Ending Juvenile Detention: Is Stage Set in Illinois?

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — People who support alternatives to detention for kids in trouble say the stage is set to bring lasting reforms to …

Experts say there are collateral consequences for older youths who have an adult criminal record.<br />(Jan H. Anderson/Adobe Stock)

An International View of Justice for Illinois’ Young Adults

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois lawmakers, along with state and national judicial leaders, will get an international perspective today on ways to create …

In 2017, 167 kids younger than age 13 were held in detention facilities in Illinois. (Adobe Stock)

"No 10-Year-Old Should Be in Jail"

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Legislation is making its way through the Illinois House that could help change the trajectory for some kids in legal trouble…

A majority of adults age 18 to 25 who are incarcerated in Illinois are there for nonviolent offenses. (Lechenie-narkomonii/Pixabay)

Report: Illinois Justice Needs Age-Appropriate Approach

CHICAGO – Illinoisans ages 18 to 25 are not children anymore, but many are not quite grown up either. New research examines how the state can …

Cook County has reduced juvenile detention admissions about 15 percent. (Cirt/Wikimedia)

Cook County Raises Bar on Juvenile Detention Age

CHICAGO – Hundreds of young children are held in juvenile detention facilities each year in Illinois. And the county responsible for many of …

Advocates say the juvenile court system offers more rehabilitative resources than the adult system. (Pixabay)

Will Illinois Join National "Raise the Age" Wave?

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Some advocates and policymakers are hopeful Illinois will become part of a wave of national juvenile justice reform…

A bill that aims to reduce carjacking would put the burden on juvenile justice advocates to prove their clients should be freed until their cases are resolved. (Pixabay)

Carjacking Crackdown Bill Means More Detention for Juveniles

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Claiming not to know that a car is stolen would no longer be a major factor in prosecuting suspected carjackers under a …

Research indicates kids who commit low-level crimes often are dealing with poverty, domestic violence and drug abuse. (cdc.gov)

Report: Overhaul of Juvenile Justice System Needed

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The current juvenile-justice system in this country doesn't work as well as it should, according to a new report by the Annie E…

Research shows young people don't think the same way adults do, even after they turn 18. (V. Carter)

Report: Incentives Needed for Community-Based Treatment

EVANSTON, Ill. – A new report called "Detention of Juveniles in Illinois" highlights the need for local communities to be given financial …

About 70 percent of the young people arrested in Illinois are dealing with mental health issues. (womenshealth.gov)

Stemming the Tide of Youth in Prison

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Seven in 10 juveniles arrested in Illinois have underlying mental health issues, and advocates are urging lawmakers to …

Illinois automatically sends 18-year-old defendants to adult court. (www.icjia.state.il.us)

Bill Would Raise Age that Kids Go to Adult Court

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Legislation aimed at keeping juveniles on the right track is being discussed by Illinois lawmakers. Rep. Laura Fine…

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IL: Juvenile Justice