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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…

According to the Illinois General Assembly, at least 318 new pieces of legislation will go into effect in 2024 that will impact every area in the state. (Adobe Stock)

New IL laws usher in policy changes in health care, employment, policing

At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, Illinoisans will see more than 300 new laws take effect - with changes that impact the state's …

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…

Property crime and violence against young people are both up, recent federal data show, but other crime trends are not as clear-cut. (Adobe Stock)

New data: Violent crime is up and also down

By Weihua Li and Jamiles Lartey for The Marshall Project.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Marshall P…

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 …

Researchers at Loyola University in Chicago say almost 175,000 people are held in pretrial detention each year in Illinois. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Backers hope IL 'no cash bail' makes justice equitable, less expensive

A set of controversial reforms to Illinois' cash bail system went into effect this week, changing a decades-old system of holding people in jail …

Illinois has an incarceration rate of 497 per 100,000 people, including prisons, jails, immigration detention and juvenile justice facilities. This means the state locks up a higher percentage of its people than almost any democracy on earth. (Adobe Stock)

Federal Funding Restored to Educate People in Prison

By Max Lubbers for Chalkbeat Chicago.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Illinois News Service reporting for the Chalkbeat Chicago-Public News Service …

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 …

According to The Sentencing Project, in 2022 an estimated 4.6 million Americans were ineligible to vote due to laws and policies. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Push for Voting-Restoration Rights for Incarcerated Illinoisans

Groups in Illinois are pushing legislation that would restore voting rights, including for people currently incarcerated. According to Stand Up …

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 …

A Loyola University analysis of Illinois pretrial incarceration outcomes showed no effects on crime or rates of re-arrest, but did find a 3% rise in defendents' failure to appear in court. (Burlingham/Adobe Stock)

Illinois Dems Seek to Tweak Cash-Bail Ban Before it Takes Effect

Illinois lawmakers, meeting in their annual "Veto Session" in Springfield, are taking a look at the controversial SAFE-T Act one last time before it …

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 Department of Corrections oversees more than 40 facilities, ranging from traditional prisons to work camps and transition centers. (Adobe Stock)

Groups Call for Water Infrastructure Testing in IL Prisons

After reports of water contamination in Illinois prisons, groups are calling on the state to conduct a top-down review of the water and sewer systems …

The Chicago Police Department reported recovering 458 ghost guns in 2021, up from 139 in 2020. (Adobe Stock)">

IL Governor Signs Ban on 'Ghost Guns'

Illinois has a new law banning the sale and possession of "ghost guns," essentially untraceable firearms that are sold in kit-form online or at gun sh…

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 …

The Violence Against Women Act has been stalled in the U.S. Senate since it expired in 2019. (nito/Adobe Stock)

Creating Space for LGBTQ Illinoisans to Discuss Domestic Violence

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. - October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and advocates want to shed more light on how Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual…

In a survey about restorative justice, 70% of respondents said they think less taxpayer money should be spent on prisons, jails and detention centers. (Office of Gov. J.B. Pritzker)

New IL Law Affects People in "Restorative-Justice" Programs

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- A bill signed into law in Springfield protects the participants in restorative-justice practices from having what they do or say …

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 …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by …

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…

Since recreational use of marijuana became legal in Illinois in 2020, 700,000 minor cannabis records have become eligible to be expunged. (Victor Moussa/Adobe Stock)

IL Initiative Helps Expunge Cannabis Convictions

CHICAGO -- A little more than a year after Illinois became the eleventh state to legalize recreational cannabis, legal-aid groups are working to help …

If Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs the criminal-justice package passed by the Illinois General Assembly, Illinois will be the first state to end cash bail. (RomanR/Adobe Stock)

IL General Assembly Approves End to Money Bond

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois is set to become the first state to eliminate money bond, after the General Assembly passed a criminal-justice reform …

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 …

Researchers say Black communities are disproportionately affected by the bail-bond system. (Adobe Stock)<br />

Illinois Lawmaker Proposes Ending Cash-Bond System

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Illinois lawmakers have the chance to ensure poverty is never the reason a person stays in jail. The Pretrial Fairness Act has …

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 …

Trump's "Proud Boys" Comments Spur Unease

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Civil-rights advocates are warning President Donald Trump's debate comments about a group known as Proud Boys could encourage far-…

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 …

Alderman Roderick Sawyer of Chicago's 6th Ward introduced an ordinance that would end the Chicago Public Schools' security agreement with the Chicago Police Department. (VOYCES)

"We Demand Change": A Call to Get Police Out of Chicago Schools

CHICAGO -- Amid the intensifying appeals to rethink the role of police in cities across the country, there's a new push to end the police presence in …

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 …

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IL: Criminal Justice