(1) It is the intent of the General Assembly to promote a juvenile justice system capable of dealing with the problem of juvenile delinquency, a system that will protect the community, impose accountability for violations of law and equip juvenile offenders with competencies to live responsibly and productively. To effectuate this intent, the General Assembly declares the following to be important purposes of this Article:
         (a) To protect citizens from juvenile crime.

	subject to this Act. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 705 ILCS 405/5-105 Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed. State: when applied to different parts of the United States, may be construed to include the District of Columbia and the several territories, and the words "United States" may be construed to include the said district and territories. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.14 United States: may be construed to include the said district and territories. See Illinois Compiled Statutes 5 ILCS 70/1.14          (b) To hold each juvenile offender directly
accountable for the juvenile’s acts.
(c) To provide an individualized assessment of each
alleged and adjudicated delinquent juvenile, in order to rehabilitate and to prevent further delinquent behavior through the development of competency in the juvenile offender. As used in this Section, “competency” means the development of educational, vocational, social, emotional and basic life skills which enable a minor to mature into a productive member of society.
(d) To provide due process, as required by the
Constitutions of the United States and the State of Illinois, through which each juvenile offender and all other interested parties are assured fair hearings at which legal rights are recognized and enforced.
(2) To accomplish these goals, juvenile justice policies developed pursuant to this Article shall be designed to:          (a) Promote the development and implementation of
community-based programs designed to prevent unlawful and delinquent behavior and to effectively minimize the depth and duration of the minor’s involvement in the juvenile justice system;
(b) Provide secure confinement for minors who present
a danger to the community and make those minors understand that sanctions for serious crimes, particularly violent felonies, should be commensurate with the seriousness of the offense and merit strong punishment;
(c) Protect the community from crimes committed by
minors;
(d) Provide programs and services that are
community-based and that are in close proximity to the minor’s home;
(e) Allow minors to reside within their homes
whenever possible and appropriate and provide support necessary to make this possible;
(f) Base probation treatment planning upon individual
case management plans;
(g) Include the minor’s family in the case management
plan;
(h) Provide supervision and service coordination
where appropriate; implement and monitor the case management plan in order to discourage recidivism;
(i) Provide post-release services to minors who are
returned to their families and communities after detention;
(j) Hold minors accountable for their unlawful
behavior and not allow minors to think that their delinquent acts have no consequence for themselves and others.
(3) In all procedures under this Article, minors shall have all the procedural rights of adults in criminal proceedings, unless specifically precluded by laws that enhance the protection of such minors. Minors shall not have the right to a jury trial unless specifically provided by this Article.   Previous section Next section    Part 1 Contents