SR0053

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SENATE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, Children as young as nine years old fall prey to 
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gangs, drug use, and violent
crime every day and ruin their 
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chances of being successful in the future; and

 
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    WHEREAS, 30% of children arrested for violent crimes are 
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repeat offenders who pose a
constant drain of resources on the 
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State of Illinois; and

 
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    WHEREAS, A majority of juvenile crime arrests occur on the 
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south and west sides of the City of Chicago, areas which are 
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primarily occupied by minorities living below poverty level; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Despite community efforts and an increased police 
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presence there have been no statistical changes in the rate of 
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juvenile crime arrests in the City of Chicago; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The most recent statistics, which are over ten 
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years old, find that the average cost of holding a teenager in 
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a juvenile facility was $33,000 a year; and

 
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    WHEREAS, All current juvenile justice programs focus on 
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post-incarceration efforts to
rehabilitate and early-childhood 
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efforts to keep children away from drugs and gangs; and
 
 


 






SR0053
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LRB095 08468 KXB 28647 r




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    WHEREAS, No juvenile justice programs currently available 
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in the State of Illinois teach children the practical aspects 
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of criminal law; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Statistics show that early prevention programs 
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are most effective to prevent juveniles from committing violent 
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crimes in the future; and
 
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    WHEREAS, Chicago TAP, in collaboration with the Chicago Bar 
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Association, identified juvenile crime prevention as a top 
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priority to reduce juvenile crime and prevent overall crime; 
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therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE  SENATE OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL 
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ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we support programs to 
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prevent violent crime among Illinois juveniles and teach 
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juveniles about criminal law and the criminal court system in 
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order to educate them about the ramifications of making wrong 
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choices, and we urge Governor Rod Blagojevich to support such 
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programs; and be it further


 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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delivered to Governor Rod Blagojevich.