Bill Text: IL SR1049 | 2013-2014 | 98th General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Encourages faith and community-based organizations to collaborate with law enforcement, juvenile justice, mental health professionals, educators, and businesses to develop and implement a Regional Juvenile Justice Advisory Council that researches and develops policies and interventions to address juvenile justice disparities and disproportionate minority contact through a collaborative process that takes full advantage of State and federal funding resources.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2014-05-15 - Resolution Adopted; 050-000-000 [SR1049 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2013-SR1049-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, In 1974, Congress enacted the Juvenile Justice and
Delinquency Prevention Act to support local and state efforts
to prevent delinquency and improve the juvenile justice system
and how it handles the cases of children and their families;
and
WHEREAS, Youth of color are disproportionately represented
at all stages of the juvenile justice system and rates of
overrepresentation increase as children proceed through the
system; and
WHEREAS, The Cook County Juvenile Court in Markham is one
of the nation's busiest court houses, busier than Chicago or
Los Angeles; and
WHEREAS, The demographics of youth of color from various
regions reflect the major antecedents of high crime and
"troubled communities", high unemployment, struggling
educational system, high young population, and high rates of
families that have a single head of household; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated that rates of post-traumatic
stress disorder in juvenile justice-involved youth is
comparable to rates of soldiers returning from Iraq, between 3%

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and 50%; and
WHEREAS, Studies show that between 25% and 45% of prisoners
in the United States have attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder; recidivism rates are also high, with an estimated
two-thirds being rearrested within about 3 years; and
WHEREAS, The creation of a Regional Juvenile Justice
Council would build and expand on the work of the Cook County
Juvenile Advisory Council (comprised of probation staff and
"wards of the state" who work together) to facilitate
community-based collaboration and perspective on oversight,
research and evaluation of activities, and programs and
policies directed towards and impacting the lives of juveniles;
and
WHEREAS, A Regional Juvenile Justice Council would be
comprised of representatives from Illinois Criminal Justice
Information Authority Councils, Cook County Department of
Public Health Domestic Violence Councils, local school
districts, universities, and various stakeholders active in
the region, including business persons, representatives from
law enforcement, juvenile justice-involved family
representatives, mental health professionals, social service
agencies, representatives of the clergy, local leaders,
elected officials, and representatives from Cook County

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Juvenile Advisory Councils; and
WHEREAS, A Regional Juvenile Justice Council would
incorporate the broader community with a focus on prevention,
youth resilience, and community safety as they work together to
provide a community perspective to influence local, regional,
and State policies that effect juvenile justice and the youth
in their communities; and
WHEREAS, The Office of Juvenile Justice seeks to reduce
"disproportionate minority contact" by reducing over
representation of youth of color in the justice system,
reducing racial and ethnic disparities at each decision making
point, and preventing youth of color from disproportionately
entering and moving deeper into the juvenile justice system
than other youth; and
WHEREAS, A Regional Juvenile Justice Council would seek to
research the relationship between attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder, childhood trauma, and juvenile
delinquency, decrease disproportionate minority school
arrests, increase school retention and academic performance,
decrease curfew violations, decrease recurring arrests,
increase positive group activities for justice involved youth,
increase positive role models for justice involved youth, and
increase positive messages that discourage violence and

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delinquency; and
WHEREAS, Faith and community-based organizations provide
critical leadership, knowledge, and passion when it comes to
preventing and intervening in cycles of youth violence and
delinquency around the country; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the nation, faith and non-profit
organizations have taken on many tasks in order to keep young
people safe and increase positive opportunities for young
people; and
WHEREAS, Staff and volunteers from faith and
community-based organizations mentor juveniles, counsel
parents, teach classes, serve meals, sponsor after-school
programs, conduct home visits, and work with law enforcement
agencies to address and reduce the problems related to juvenile
delinquency; and
WHEREAS, A Regional Juvenile Justice Council would be
committed to enhancing the quality of life for all youth by
actively advising the Governor, policymakers, and the public on
matters related to improving system of care, enhancing
interagency community collaboration, and promoting effective
programming necessary to serving the needs of the whole child;
therefore, be it

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RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL
ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage faith and
community-based organizations to collaborate with law
enforcement, juvenile justice, mental health professionals,
educators, and businesses to develop and implement a Regional
Juvenile Justice Advisory Council that researches and develops
policies and interventions to address juvenile justice
disparities and disproportionate minority contact through a
collaborative process that takes full advantage of State and
federal funding resources; and be it further
RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
delivered to juvenile justice-involved agencies and
organizations through the State of Illinois.