1966-06-23 - Resolution 1966-06 - Decentralization of Cook County Juvenile Court VILLAC-E OF BUFFALO GROVE
RESOLUTIO N
R-66-6
WHEREAS, all society is conscious of the obligations
imposed upon it in meetins_ the problems of dependent, neg-
lected and delinquent children, and
WHEREAS, the Juvenile Court Division of the Circuit
Court of Cook County deals primarily with such children,
having on its calendar up to 20,000 cases annually, and
WHEREAS, there has been much talk of ways and means
of combatting and solving this acute problem with very
little progress toward decentralization of the Juvenile
Court, and
WHEREAS, the 'Evanston Youth Commission, after serious
study, called a meeting Monday, February 21, 1966, to dis-
cuss decentralization of the Juvenile Court of Cook County,
presently located at Roosevelt Road and Ogden Avenue,
Chicago, Illinois , and
.,HEREAS , there were present at this meeting approx-
imately one hundred representatives from most of the
suburban communities in Cook County, representing police
department, youth commissions, probation officers , and
other officials dealing with juvenile problems in the
aforesaid communities , and
WHEREAS, there was almost unanimous agreement that
suburban juvenile court should be established forthwith ,
and
H',,REAS, there were also present presiding judges
from each district who evinced a desire to assist the
Juvenile Court Judge and his staff in their present
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endeavors on behalf of juveniles sent to the Court, and
who indicated that they had practically all the facilities
necessary to hear and dispose of these types of cases , and
WHEREAS, such regional handling of juvenile cases
would remove a burden and reduce the backlog of cases now
being sent to the Juvenile Court in Chicago and enable the
suburban police and juvenile officers to operate without
the great loss of effort, time and money now needlessly con-
sumed, and
WHEREAS, the responsibility of the local community for
handling and disposing of many problems facing juveniles
would be reaffirmed and strengthened by such regional action,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Evanston Youth Com-
mission, in its own behalf, and for and in behalf of the
aforesaid representatives and communities, petition the
administrative officers of the Circuit Court of Cook County
and the presiding judge of the Juvenile Court of Cook
County that the presiding; judges of Districts 2 through 6
be authorized and be granted jurisdiction on all proceedings
that may be instituted under the provisions of the Juvenile
Court Act and that their courtrooms may be designated as
special courtrooms as provided in Section 2-11 of the Juven-
ile Court Act, and that all facilities now being used by the
Juvenile Court be made available to the aforesaid districts
when and if needed, all of the above to be and remain under
the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court of Cook County and
its presiding judge and that all its functions be performed
under the Juvenile Court Act approved August 5, 1965; and
further urge the Cook County Board of Commissioners to
enact a suitable budget to increase the number of staff
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positions and the staff salaries of the Juvenile Court
Division and to make adequate budgetary allowances for
the physical facilities needed when decentralization of
the Juvenile Court is effected.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Village of Buffalo Grove
endorse the action taken by the Evanston Youth Commission
and urge the cooperation and endorsement of the governing
bodies of all other suburban Cook County municipalities
on behalf of decentralization of the Juvenile Court of
Cook County.
Dated this 23rd day of June , 1966.
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Vill I'reside
ATTEST:
141
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Vil� ge l erk