SR1049 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR1049 LRB098 20735 GRL 57703 r

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% 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 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 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

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.