REPORTS/RESEARCH

Research Findings

County-Based Juvenile Justice Alternatives
(download full report in pdf)

Executive Summary

There is a problem. More youth are being presented in delinquency courts. These youth are also presenting more complicated behavioral problems. This has placed increasing demands on already limited County funds. In Illinois, the counties experiencing the most pressure are: Cook, the Collar Counties, and rural counties. This is a unique alignment for a shared problem in the Illinois political landscape.

There are solutions. The research in juvenile justice describes structures, methods, and clinical approaches that are proven successful in treating juvenile offenders. This knowledge base creates a platform for not just more, but better interventions. There are funds to move forward. Federal funds are available and appropriate for the financing of a system of treatment interventions for young offenders. Illinois is well-positioned to implement a financing strategy which matches county funds with federal funds to create new services. This solution does not place any additional burden on Illinois taxpayers and, in fact, returns federal tax dollars to Illinois.

This paper provides: a review of the epidemiology and services research in juvenile justice, issues with current Illinois law, a description of the federal programs that can be accessed to develop new community services, and a proposed process to achieve this aim.

Some Relevant Research Sites

A number of research reports related to the juvenile justice and child protection systems in Cook County can be found at the following sites:

Chapin Hall Center for Children

Children and Family Research Center