(705 ILCS 405/5-201)
Sec. 5-201.
Legislative declaration.
The General Assembly recognizes that, despite the large investment of resources
committed to address the needs of the juvenile justice system of this State,
cost of juvenile crime continues to drain the State's existing financial
capacity, and exacts traumatic and tragic physical, psychological and economic
damage to victims.
The General Assembly further
recognizes that many adults in the criminal justice system were once
delinquents in the juvenile justice system. The General Assembly also
recognizes that the most effective juvenile delinquency programs are programs
that not only prevent children from entering the juvenile justice system, but
also meet local community needs and have substantial community involvement and
support. Therefore, it is the belief of the General Assembly that one of the
best investments of the scarce resources available to combat crime is in the
prevention of delinquency, including prevention of criminal activity by youth
gangs. It is the
intent of the
General Assembly to authorize and encourage each of the counties of the State
to establish a comprehensive juvenile justice plan based upon the input of
representatives of every affected public or private entity, organization, or
group. It is the further intent of the General Assembly that representatives
of school systems, the judiciary, law enforcement, and the community acquire a
thorough understanding of the role and responsibility that each has in
addressing juvenile crime in the community, that the county juvenile justice
plan reflect an understanding of the legal and fiscal limits within which the
plan must be implemented, and that willingness of the parties to cooperate and
collaborate in implementing the plan be explicitly stated. It is the further
intent of the General Assembly that county juvenile justice plans form the
basis of regional and
State juvenile justice plans and that the prevention and treatment resources at
the county, regional, and State levels be utilized to the maximum extent
possible to implement and further the goals of their respective plans.
(Source: P.A. 90-590, eff. 1-1-99.)
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