NCJ Number
124959
Journal
Perspectives Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1990) Pages: 26-30
Date Published
1990
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article examines the significance of citizen involvement in the creation of the Juvenile Court of Cook County in 1899, the first juvenile court in the U.S.
Abstract
The reform movement not only created the new court but changed Illinois law so that no child under 16 would be treated as an adult in the criminal justice system and children under 12 who were taken into custody would not be detained in a jail or police station. Citizen involvement in the affairs of the court continued until the county began to assume financial responsibility by compensating probation officers and building a detention facility. However, a citizen's advisory committee maintained a public interest in the workings of the juvenile court. Concern over the disposition of cases and the court's alleged infringement on children's civil rights arose in 1961 and, in response, the newly formed Citizen's Committee issued a report in conjunction with the National Council on Crime and Delinquency (NCCD). The court did implement many of the NCCD recommendations and professionalized its operations. During the 1970s, the Committee formed a number of subcommittees to deal with its expanded workloads. These subcommittees performed administrative functions, dealt with child welfare issues, worked on improving the court's probation and clinical services, reviewed pending legislation, and oversaw the management and operation of the detention center. 14 references.