NCJ Number
168487
Journal
School Safety (Fall 1997) Volume: Issue: Dated: Pages: 20-24
Date Published
1997
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This overview of the history and features of Illinois' juvenile justice system addresses such issues as juveniles' criminal justice records, dispositions, juvenile court waivers, juvenile detention, juveniles in correctional facilities, and juvenile probation.
Abstract
In 1899 Illinois established the first juvenile court in the United States. This act was a formal recognition that young offenders have special problems and needs that require a system of case processing different from that used for adult offenders. The individualized approach for juvenile offenders has been based on two principles: first, that juveniles are developmentally incapable of fully forming the necessary criminal intent to be held responsible for their actions; second, that juveniles are still impressionable enough to be diverted from further criminal behavior. The juvenile justice system in Illinois differs in several key aspects from the criminal justice system. The juvenile court generally operates in a more informal manner than its adult counterpart, and the proceedings are nonadversarial; authorities have much more latitude in determining the proper disposition. Still, juveniles are protected by most of the due process safeguards associated with criminal trials. These include having the prosecuting and defense attorneys present at hearings, placing the burden of proof on the state, and guaranteeing the right to appeal court decisions. In addition to the general structure and rationale for the juvenile court, this article discusses access to juveniles' criminal justice records, police procedures in processing juveniles, processing procedures after a delinquency petition is filed, the range of dispositions juvenile courts may order, and the three circumstances under which a juvenile can be tried in criminal courts. Other issues addressed are criteria for placing juveniles in detention, procedures for committing juveniles to correctional facilities, probation conditions for juveniles, and the role of probation officers in the supervision of juveniles. 7 notes