705 ILCS 405/6-12

(705 ILCS 405/6-12)

Sec. 6-12. Juvenile justice councils.

(1) Each county, or any group of contiguous counties under an intergovernmental agreement or, in counties having a population of 3,000,000 or more, any township, or group of those townships, in the State of Illinois may, at the initiative of any State's Attorney, Public Defender, court services director, probation officer, county board member, regional superintendent of schools, sheriff, chief of police, any judge serving in a juvenile court within the jurisdiction, or governing body of any Redeploy Illinois site serving any part of that area, establish a juvenile justice council ("council").

(1.5) Each of the following officers or entities serving any part of the area included in a juvenile justice council shall designate a representative to serve on the council: the sheriff, the State's Attorney, Chief Probation Officer, the Public Defender, and each county board within the area of the council. Designation of members shall be made to the person or agency initiating formation of the council.

(a) Following designation of members, the council shall organize itself and elect from its members a chairperson and such officers as are deemed necessary.

(b) The chairperson shall, with the advice and consent of the council, appoint additional members of the council as is deemed necessary to accomplish the purposes of this Article. The additional members may include, but are not limited to, a judge who hears juvenile cases in the jurisdiction in which the council sits, representatives of local law enforcement, juvenile justice agencies, schools, businesses, community organizations, community youth service providers, faith based organizations, the State or local board of education, any family violence coordinating council, any domestic violence agency, any children's advocacy center, any serious and habitual offender comprehensive action program, the Department of Human Services, the Chamber of Commerce, any director of court services, and local justice involved youth. However, the number of voting members of any juvenile justice council shall not exceed 21.

(c) The juvenile justice council shall meet monthly for the purpose of encouraging the initiation of, or supporting ongoing, interagency cooperation and programs to address juvenile delinquency and juvenile crime.

(d) In counties having a population of 3,000,000 or more, the juvenile justice council shall provide for local area council participation in its by-laws.

(2) The purpose of a juvenile justice council is:

(a) To provide a forum for the development of a community-based interagency assessment of the local juvenile justice system, to develop a juvenile justice plan for the prevention of juvenile delinquency, and to make recommendations to the county board, or county boards, for more effectively utilizing existing community resources in dealing with juveniles who are found to be involved in crime, or who are truant or have been suspended or expelled from school. The juvenile justice plan shall include relevant portions of local crime prevention and public safety plans, school improvement and school safety plans, Redeploy Illinois plans, and the plans or initiatives of other public and private entities within the covered area that are concerned with dropout prevention, school safety, the prevention of juvenile crime and criminal activity by youth gangs.

(b) To inform the development of the local assessment and plan described in paragraph (a) by utilizing aggregate data to: analyze the risks, needs, and characteristics of youth in contact with the juvenile justice system; to assess responses and resources available; and to develop or strengthen policy and practice in order to prevent or mitigate juvenile delinquency, produce positive youth outcomes, and enhance public safety. Sources of this data may include State and local human services, child protection, law enforcement, probation, corrections, education, and other public agencies. State agencies, their local and regional offices, and contractors are strongly encouraged to collaborate with juvenile justice councils to develop memoranda of understanding and intergovernmental agreements, and to share data and information in order to provide an adequate basis for the local juvenile justice plan. The confidentiality of individual juvenile records shall not be compromised at any time or in any manner in service of these functions.

(3) The duties and responsibilities of the juvenile justice council include, but are not limited to:

(a) Developing a juvenile justice plan based upon utilization of the resources of law enforcement, school systems, park programs, sports entities, Redeploy Illinois programs, and others in a cooperative and collaborative manner to prevent or discourage juvenile crime.

(b) Entering into a written county interagency agreement specifying the nature and extent of contributions each signatory agency will make in achieving the goals of the juvenile justice plan and their commitment to the sharing of information useful in carrying out the goals of the interagency agreement to the extent authorized by law.

(c) Applying for and receiving public or private grants, to be administered by one of the community partners, that support one or more components of the juvenile justice plan.

(d) (Blank).

(e) Assisting and directing the efforts of local community support organizations and volunteer groups in providing enrichment programs and other support services for clients of local juvenile detention centers.

(f) Developing and making available a county-wide or multi-county resource guide for minors in need of prevention, intervention, psycho-social, educational support, and other services needed to prevent juvenile delinquency.

(g) Facilitating community based collaboration and perspective on oversight, research, and evaluation of activities, programs, and policies directed towards and impacting the lives of juveniles.

(h) Planning for and supporting applications for Redeploy Illinois, and development of funding for screening, assessment, and risk-appropriate, evidence-informed services to reduce commitments to the Department of Juvenile Justice.

(i) Planning for and supporting the development of funding for screening, assessment, and risk-appropriate, evidence-informed services to youth reentering the community from detention in a county detention center or commitment from the Department of Juvenile Justice.

(3.5) A council which is the sole council serving any part of the area of an established Redeploy Illinois site may, in its discretion, and at the request of the Redeploy Illinois governing body of the site, undertake and maintain governance of the site under Section 16.1 of the Probation and Probation Officers Act.

(4) The council shall have no role in the charging or prosecution of juvenile offenders.

(Source: P.A. 99-435, eff. 1-1-16.)