The Juvenile Detention Center in Chicago is the destination of youthful offenders, but for those who commit crimes considered non-violent, an alternative program has been working to put youths back on the law-abiding track.
Johnathan says he knows he doesn’t want to go back to the Juvenile Detention Center. After spending six months there, “It’s nothing I’m proud of,” the 16-year-old said of the time he was in custody for trespassing and damage to property.
After violating his probation by staying out past curfew, Johnathan of Richton Park could have returned to the detention center again were it not for the Evening Reporting Center, which started last March for youths in the south and southwest suburbs.
Johnathan is one of 25 teenagers assigned to report to the center daily for offenses they’ve committed. The program is held at the Willie L. Jordan Community Service Center, 14618 Lincoln Ave., Harvey. It is operated by Aunt Martha’s Youth Services and the Cook County Circuit Court Juvenile Division’s probation and court services department.
The program is for juvenile offenders from the 6th Municipal District, which is comprised of 36 communities, from Riverdale to the north, University Park to the south, Orland Park to the west and the Indiana border to the east.
“We receive juveniles who are found guilty of anything that is not a felon and non-violent. It can’t be anything that might be an endangerment to others, like weapons charges or charges for the sale of a controlled substance,” said program administrator Saundra Blackman.
During the six-week program the teens, ages 13 to 17, are picked up at their homes Monday through Friday and taken to the center, where they remain from 4 to 8 p.m. When the teens complete their time at the center, they are assigned a mentor who keeps in contact with them for continued guidance. A violation of terms of the program could result in a stay at the Juvenile Detention Center.
“Reporting to the center is mandatory, and the reporting hours are the times they could likely commit offenses again. We’re trying to reach them before they commit more serious crimes,” said Norvell Thomas, the program’s supervisor.
The program can handle only 25 juveniles at a time. Most of the participants have been boys, but the center has handled as many as five girls at one time.
The reporting center was started with a $146,000 grant from the Illinois attorney general’s office, which pays the center’s rent and salaries of three Aunt Martha’s staff members. Funding to continue the center is being sought from the Cook County Board.
The idea for the center came from Chief Circuit Court Judge Donald O’Connell. The judge wanted the program as an alternative to incarcerating youths for less-serious crimes.
Judge Michael Stuttley, presiding judge of the Juvenile Court department of the Cook County Circuit Court in Markham, fought for three years to get the center started in Harvey and hopes to see two more opened for the south suburban area.
“I’m convinced, based on the last four months, that this is a much-needed alternative, because the county detention center can either be a shock treatment that steers kids back on the right path, or it can make them become more entrenched in bad behavior,” Stuttley said.
Aunt Martha’s also operates two other reporting centers in Chicago which opened in 1995.
At the center, teenagers do homework, receive tutoring, have guest speakers, are fed dinner, receive counseling and take part in recreational activities such as chess, backgammon and basketball.
“Topics discussed include HIV/AIDS awareness, violence prevention and intervention, alcohol and substance abuse, gang resistance and hygiene awareness,” said Thomas. Parents are also encouraged to participate in the program, he added.
Frank, 14, of Country Club Hills, who was sent to the center after he was involved in a non-violent mob action incident, said the experience has been positive.
“It’s taught me self-respect, and it’s helping me to become more respectful to others,” said Frank, who will begin his freshman year at Hillcrest High School in Country Club Hills this fall.
When he leaves the program, Frank said he will take with him the five principles the center tries to instill: anybody can do anything if they put their mind to it; think before you do; finish what you start; don’t be a quitter; and be positive. The principles were drafted by April, a girl who was assigned to the center in March.
Johnathan is taking summer school classes and plans to graduate from high school next year.
“I’m getting my homework done, but if I was at home I probably wouldn’t be,” Johnathan said. “My parents think the program is good because it keeps me out of trouble, and they know where I’m at.”
