JUVENILEJUSTICE

COUNCIL

HOWMIGHTWEIMPROVETHEEXPERIENCESANDOUTCOMESOFYOUNGPEOPLEINJUVENILECOURT?

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Table of contexts

• Cover Page….. • Table of Contents….. 1 • Authors…… 2 • Executive Summary….. 3 & 4 • Preparation….. 5

o Recommendation One….. 5 o Recommendation Two….. 6 o Recommendation Three….. 7

• Language….. 8 o Recommendation Four….. 8 o Recommendation Five….. 9 o Recommendation Six….. 10

• Diversion….. 11 o Recommendation Seven….. 11 o Recommendation Eight….. 12 o Recommendation Nine….. 13 o Recommendation Ten…..14

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Authors

BeaEusebio

KeondreJones

NatalieGastevich

XitlaliAvila

CarolinaLobodeCastro

GiltonioFlowers

MarkelEllis

MarthaZuniga

MuzamilChaudhry

TierraRichardson

CapriseWilliiams

DarcyPalder

EnriqueCarapia

StephonDemus

EstefaniaVillasenor

AdrianMunoz

DennisNeely

RobertHolloway

VickyYamilarRomero

IrisGonzalez

MikaylaJones

HardieFleming

YulissaMarTnez

MiracleBurrows

DiamondDavenport

ArrialDavis

BrianaJackson

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ExecutiveSummaryTheMikvaChallengeJuvenileJusticeCouncil(JJC)isagroupofCookCountyyouthadvocateswho

worktoimprovethejuvenilejusticesystem.Thissummerwefocusedoureffortsonthecourtprocessandhavecreatedaseriesofrecommendationsthatanswerthefollowingquestion:

Howmightweimprovetheexperiencesandoutcomesofyoungpeopleinjuvenilecourt?

WefocusedlargelyontheconceptofProceduralJustice,whichpromotestheideathatifthecourtprocessisfairandunderstoodbytheyouth,theiropinionofandcompliancewiththeiroutcomewillimprove.Wehopetheserecommendationswillassistyouthinnavigatingtheircourtprocessandprovidethemwithabetterexperienceinordertoimprovetheiroutcome.

Weeducatedourselvesonmultipleaspectsofthecourtprocessincluding(a)preparation,(b)understandingthecourtlanguage,and(c)thediversionprogramsavailable.Conductingourresearchwithvideos,pamphlets,documentsandguestspeakerswewereabletoformaholisticperspectiveoftheyouth’sjourneythroughthecourtandinturnwereabletocraftrecommendationsthatareinformedandrelevantforthecurrentCookCountyjuvenilejusticesystem.

Eachoftherecommendationsaddressesadifferentaspectoftheyouth’sjourneythroughthecourtprocess.Theyaimtoprovidenotonlyshorttermsolutionstotheproblem,buttoaidtheindividualinthelongtermaswell.Ourfinalproductsincludetenrecommendations,achecklistforcourtpersonnel,anda3Ddesignofjuvenilecourtroomandwaitingroom.Thefollowingaresummariesofwhatwillappearlaterinthereport:

Fromasurveywecreated,whichreceivedover450responsesfromyouthalloverthecity,wediscoveredthatmorethan80%ofsurveyorshad“littletonoidea”aboutthejuvenilecourtprocess.Aftermuchexplorationandanalysisofalternatesolutions,wecreatedarecommendationthatsuggeststhecreationofawebsiteandappthatwillexplainthejuvenilecourtprocessstepbystep,coveringthemomentofarresttothefinaldispositionhearing.AccordingtoasurveybytheUSNationalLibraryofMedicine82.9%ofyouthwereeither“somewhatlikely”or“verylikely”touseaninformation-basedwebsite“iftheyweregoingthroughadifficulttime”suchascourt.Basedonthisinformationandsimilarstudies,wehopethatinformationonthewebwillreachagreateramountofyouththananypamphletwilldo.Intermsoftheamountofyouththatwillabsorbtheinformationofthewebsite,wehavereasonedthatbecauseasiteismoreinteractivethananypamphletorflyer,itwillthereforebecomemoreengagingfortheeveractiveyouth.

SeeingastheJuvenileJusticeSystemonlyappliestothoseundertheageof18andunlikelytoownavehicle,wealsolookedintoyouthtransportationmethodstocourt.AccordingtoasurveybyMikvaChallenge’sMayoralYouthCommissionin2015,44%ofrespondentssaidthemainreasontheymissed

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schoolwasbecausethey“can’taffordtransportation”.Ourcounciltookthistomeanthatmostyouthdonothavethefinancialabilitytogettocourteither.Basedonthesurveyreport,werecommendedafreeride-sharingforallyouthwithacourtdate.Inthiswayyouthabsenceandresultingcourtcancellationswouldbecomelessfrequent.Inturntheefficiencyofthejuvenilejusticesystemwouldincrease.

Asaculminatingproject,ourcouncilworkedwithLatentDesigntocreateayouthdesignedcourtroom.AccordingtoasurveybyModelsforChangemostyouthareonlyabletorecallathirdofwhattheyweresentencedtoaftertheirhearing,duelargelytotheconfusingdialectusedincourt.Basedonthesamereport,thetemplateforwhichmostjudgesspeaktoyouthiswrittenata12.9gradelevelwhiletheaveragereadinglevelforbothadultsandyouthisbetween7thand8thgrade(Readability).Inordertobetterprepareyouthforthecourtroomlanguage,thedifferentrolesoftheadultsandthepossibleoutcomes,werecommendedthecreationofapreparationroomconnectedtothecourtwaitingroom.Thepurposeofthisseparateroomwouldbetoprovideinteractivewaystoteachyouthaboutthecourtroom,including:videos,informationalpamphlets,comicsfocusedoncourtandvocabdefiningposters.Expandingontherecommendation,inordertomakesureallquestionsareanswered,acosteffectivelawinternshouldbestationedintheroom.Wealsoworkedtoredesignthecourtroomitself,utilizingtheconceptofhumancentereddesign,inordertocreateaspatiallayoutthatwouldbenefittheyouth.Thesesuggestionsrangedfromalteringthelanguageusedincourttoreflectyouthdialecttoaddingmorecolorinordertomaketheroommoreyouthfriendly.Thefollowingrecommendationssuggestthatspaceandarchitecturaldesigncanandshouldbeusedasatooltoaidtheyouthduringtheircourtprocess.

Throughanextensivesixweeksofresearch,wehavecompiledtheserecommendationstoimprovethecurrentCookCountyjuvenilejusticesystem.Wehaveconsideredboththeindividualandthethousandsthattravelthroughthejuvenilejusticesystem.Itmustbenotedonemoretimethatweareagroupofyouthandthereforeprovideauniqueperspectivethatwillseldombefoundanywhereelse.Weinviteyoutoreadandstronglyconsiderwhatwehavetosay,webelieveitwillbetterthelivesofyouthinthesystem.

Sources:

Peralta,Rose,andGeorgeYeannakis."InnovationBrief:JudicialColloquies:CommunicatingwithKidsinCourt."—ModelsforChange:SystemsReforminJuvenileJustice.ModelsforChange,12Dec.2013.Web.7Aug.2015.

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"Readability-ClearLanguageGroup."ClearLanguageGroup.Readability.Web.10Aug.2015.

Sources:

Cardenas,Edward."UberOffersRidesForSpringCleaningDonations."CBSDetroit.CBSDetroit,30Apr.2015.Web.10Aug.2015.<http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2015/04/30/uber-offers-rides-for-spring-cleaning-donations/>.

Goudie,Chuck."I-Team:ViolenceonCTAWidespread."ABC7Chicago.ABC7Chicago,20Feb.2013.Web.10Aug.2015.

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Youthshouldreceiveafreerideshare(Uber/Taxi/Lyft)toandfromcourt,toensurethattheyouthwon’tbelateormisstheircourtdatebecausetheydonothavetransportation.Courtpersonnelprovideyouthwithbuscards,butyouthmaybetemptedtousethebusfareforotherthingsthatcomeupduringthetimeofwaitingforcourt,thereforeprovidingarideshareforyouthwillbemoreuseful.

Research***MostYouthdonothavethejinancestotraveltocourt***AccordingtoasurveybyMikvaChallenge’sMayoralYouthCommissionTransportationIncentivesProgram,44%ofrespondentsanswered“Can’taffordtransportation”asthereasontheydon’tgotoschool.***ThepopularrideshareprogramUberisknowntodonatetheirservices,inspring2015,aspartofaGoodwillpromotion,theyofferedfreeridestothosewillingtodonatebetween10am-3pmSaturday

HowwillthishelpCourtattendancebyyouthhasalwaysbeenscattered,duelargelytotheirinabilitytogettocourtbecauseoftheirjinancialsituation.Youth’sattendancehasalsobeenknowntonegativelyaffectthecourtscheduleanddecreasetheefjiciencyofthecourt.Thisrecommendationisaimedtoprovideyouthwithasafe,easyridetocourtinhopesthatitwillimprovetheyouth’scourtexperienceandthecourt’sefjiciency.

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Youthshouldbeprovidedwithinformationalpamphlets,courtvocabularydeFiningposters,interactivevideos,andcourtspecialistsbeforetheyenterthecourtroom.Thesesupplementalmaterialscouldbeprovidedinaroomthatyouthtravelthroughbeforetheyenterthecourtroom.

Research***MostYouthareconfusedbythechallenginglanguageusedincourt***AccordingtoasurveybyModelsforChangemostyouthareonlyabletorecallathirdofwhattheyweresentencedtoaftertheirhearing,duelargelytotheconfusingdialectusedincourt.***Itwouldbestronglyadvisedthatpublicdefenders,prosecutorsandjudgeswentthroughtheroomandtoadjustthelanguagetheyuseincourttorejlectthepreparationrooms.

Howwillthishelp

Asmostyouth’stimeincourtcausestheirexperiencetoworsen,duetotheirconfusionofproceedings,thepreparationroomwouldactasaplacewhereyouthandtheirfamilycanreceiveatutorialofcourtproceedings.

Sources:

Peralta,Rose,andGeorgeYeannakis."InnovationBrief:JudicialColloquies:CommunicatingwithKidsinCourt."—ModelsforChange:SystemsReforminJuvenileJustice.ModelsforChange,12Dec.2013.Web.7Aug.2015.

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Inordertohelpyouthbetterprepareforthecourtprocess,thepublicdefender’sofFiceshouldvisittheyouth’sschooland/orhome.

Research***Youthwhohavenotbeenthroughthecourtprocessalready,feltthatayouthshouldtalktotheirlawyerorpublicdefender2to3timesbeforetheircase.***ThcouldbelinkedtothehighcaseloadsexperiencedbyCookCountypublicdefenders.TheNationalAdvisoryCommissiononCriminalJusticeStandardsandGoalssetthecaseloadlimitforafulltimepublicdefenderat200juvenilesayear,butthecaseloadofaCookCountypublicdefenderis160%morethanthenationalstandard(that’s320juvenilesayear).

HowwillthishelpThisrecommendationwillhelpyouthbecomemoreeducatedonthecourtprocessandtheoccurrencesthathappenthroughout.Itwillalsoincreasetheamountoftimepublicdefendersspendfamiliarizingthemselvestotheyouth’scaseandtheoptionsthatareintheyouth’sbestinterest.Itissuggestedthatbydecreasingthecaseloadofpublicdefenderstheywillhavemoretimetounderstandtheyouth’scaseinordertomakethecourtprocesslessstressful.

Sources:“TooManyClients,TooLittleTime:HowStatesAreForcingPublicDefenderstoViolateTheirEthical

Obligations."FederalSentencingReporter:91-102.JuvenileJusticeCouncil2015Survey

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Sources:

“WhyBostonStudentsCreatedA'KnowYourRights'App."Learninglab.N.p.,16June2015.Web.10Aug.2015.

"UnderstandtheProblem.",WrongfulConvictionsofYouth:BluhmLegalClinic,NorthwesternUniversitySchoolofLaw.Web.10Aug.2015.<http://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictionsyouth/understandproblem/>.

"CaseStudy:DevelopingJudicialColloquies."(n.d.):9.Print.

http://learninglab.wbur.org/2015/06/16/why-boston-students-created-a-know-your-rights-app/

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CreateawebappthatexplainsthecourtprocessstepbystepandalsodeFinessentencingtermsinmultiplelanguages.Thewebappwillsimplifyterms,breakthemintocrimecategoriesandaddressthepossibleoutcomes.Someexampletabswouldbe,“Knowyourrights,”“Court,”and“Arrest.

Research***AccordingtotheBluhmLegalClinicatNorthwestern,“youthfuldefendantsmayhaveparticulardifjicultyunderstandingcriminalproceedingsoractivelyparticipatingintheprocess.”***StudentsinBostoncreatedasimilarwebsiteandappcalled,“BostonStudentRights.”Theirsuccessshowsthatasimilarappaboutlegaltermswouldbejustassuccessful.***ThisrecommendationstronglyagreeswithAyomide,astudentwhohelpedcreatetheBostonappwhosaid,“Youcan’tdefendyourselfanywhereifyoudon'tknowthetypeofrightsyouhave."

Howwillthishelp

Awebappwouldbehelpfulsinceitiscommonforyouthandtheirfamiliestonotknowwhotoaskforinformationorwheretogetinformation.Awebappcanbeaccessed24/7andwouldbeuser-friendly.It

wouldbeveryhelpfultoboththeyouthandparent/guardianbeforeenteringthecourtprocess.

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Source:

"BenefitsofPeerMentoring."BenefitsofMentoring.N.p.,n.d.Web.10Aug.2015.

Recommenda0on5Haveeachcalendaradministerasurveyonlinetoyouthwhohave

recentlybeenthroughcourtaskingwhattheyunderstoodthroughouttheexperience.Usethefeedbacktoinstructjudgeson

howtosimplifyandexplainwhatisgoingonincourt.(Samplequestionsbelow):

• Doyouknowtherolesofthateachindividualplayedinyourcase?• Didyoufeelthatyouwerebeingtreatedfairly?Whyorwhynot?

Research

***AccordingtoAGuideforCommunicationandUnderstandinginJuvenileCourt,formsandlanguageusedinthejuvenilecourtare,“...writtenata12.9gradereadinglevel,usingtheFlesh-Kincaidreadinggradeleveltestandhasaverylowreadabilityscore(i.e.difjiculttoreadandbestunderstoodbyuniversitygraduates)...”***AccordingtotheJusticeJuvenileCouncilSurvey2015,46.4%youthdidnotunderstandcourtlanguage.***Havingatranslatorincourt,likeamentor,“...canprovidevaluablesupportforstudentsatcriticalpointsintheirstudentlife..."

Howwillthishelp

.

Manyyouthinthesystemdon’treallyknowwhat’sgoingonduetothecomplicatedlanguageincourtroomswhichusuallyleavesthemblindlysaying“yes”withoutunderstandingwhat’shappening.Havingayouthtranslatorwouldbenejitthecourt-involvedyouthbecausetheywillbemoreengagedbefore,during,andafterthehearingsincetheynowunderstandthelanguagethatisbeingused.Havinganinternwoulddecreasetheamount(46.4%)ofyouththatdon’tunderstandthecourtlanguage.

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Sources:"Diversion|LawFacts."Diversion|LawFacts.LawFacts.Web.10Aug.2015.

<http://lawfacts.ca/criminal/diversion>.1,Chapter."MakingtheCaseforProgramEvaluation."MakingtheCaseforProgramEvaluation(n.d.):n.pag.Web.

10Aug.2015.

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Asurveyshouldbeadministeredtoyouththatwouldevaluatecourtpersonnel(state’sattorney,publicdefender,etc.)makingsuretheyareperformingtheirjobeffectivelyandmeetingtheneedsoftheyoungpeopleincourt.Thissurveywouldfocusonproceduraljustice.

Research***Evaluationsincreaseperformancebypinpointingtheweaknessessothattheycanworkonthemandimprovetheirworkethicandhowtheyhandlecases.Themainfocusoftheevaluationistoensurethatthecourtpersonnelarehandlingcasesinajustandfairmanner.Itwillmakesurethattheyouthontrialhavecourtpersonnelthatarewellversedinallaspectsoftheircasesuchasfairsentencing,alternativestojail,etc.***Evaluationsareimportanttomakesureyouthhaveafairexperienceincourt.Havinganevaluationwouldprovide“unlimitedpotentialforimprovingservices.Itcanhelptoclarifyanddevelopthekindsofservicesthatrecipientsneed.Italsocanhelptoidentifyand/oradjustservicesthatarenotbeingdeliveredtomoreeffectivelyservetheappropriatepeople.”

Howwillthishelp

Thiswouldhelptheyouthasitwouldensurethatthecourtpersonnelareperformingtheirjobfairlyandadequatelyatalltimes.Theyouthaftercompletingtheevaluation,willbeassuredthattheircasematteredtothegovernmentandwillhaveagreateropinionoftheirexperienceandoutcomeincourt.Theyouthwillfeelthattheyhavea"voice"inthecourtthatwillbetransmittedthroughtheevaluationtheycomplete.

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Sources:"Readability-ClearLanguageGroup."ClearLanguageGroup.Readibility.Web.10Aug.2015.

"RedeployIllinois."DHS:.IllinoisDepartmentofHumanServices.Web.10Aug.2015.

RedeployIllinois:AnnualReporttotheGovernorandtheGeneralAssembly(2012-2013)

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RedeployIllinoisshouldbeadoptedinCookCounty.RedeployIllinoisisaprogramthatprovidesprogramsforhigh-riskyouthtopreventthemfromenteringthejuvenilejusticesystem.

Research***RedeployIllinoishasbeenimplementedinMaconCounty,PeoriaCounty,St.ClairCounty,LeeCounty,McLeanCounty,andMadisonCounty.Asof2012,eachcountysavedatleast$1millionsincestartingRedeployIllinois.***Together,thesixcountieshavesaved$59,632,711.***ThesesavingscomefromkeepingyouthoutofaJTDCandputtingthemintodiversionprograms,whichismuchlessexpensive.Onaverage,itcosts$31,000ayeartoimprisonsomeone,yetitcosts$350-$450toputsomeonethroughadiversionprogram.***IthasalsosavedIllinoistaxpayers$11.7million.***Currently,inthecountiesitexistsin,Redeployhas54%lessyouthbeingincarcerated(outofthosewhowereeligibletobeincarcerated).***Intangiblenumbers,eachcountysaved40youthfrombeingsenttoaJTDCthroughRedeployIllinois

Howwillthishelp

RedeployIllinoisshouldbeimplementedinCookCountybecauseitwillsavethecountymoneyinadditiontopreventyouthfromenteringtheJuvenileTemporaryDetentionCenter.Thisbenejitsboththecountyandtheyouth,whichisraretojindinaprogram.

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“TheJumpstartprogramkeptmeeducateduntilIgotbackintoschool.IfIwould’vereceivedcreditsforschoolwhileintheJumpstartprogramIprobablywould’vegraduatedsooner.”

-HardieFleming,CurrentMemberoftheJJC

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Alldiversionprograms,shoulduponayouth’scompletion,dismissallchargesagainsttheyouthandprovideotherincentives.YouthshouldreceiveschoolcreditsindiversionprogramslikeJumpstart.Jumpstartisaprogramforyouththatareonprobationtorefocusthemontheireducation.

Research***Researchhasshownthatstudentswhomissorfailacademiccoursesareatgreaterriskofdroppingoutofschoolthantheirpeers.Tore-engagethesestudentsresearchersrecommendthatschoolsprovideextraacademicsupport(Dynarskietal.,2008).Datareportedbyschoolssuggeststhatcredit-recoveryprogramsmayhavepositiveeffectsonearningcreditstowardgraduation,attendancerates,andpassingratesonstatestandardizedtests.

Howwillthishelp

Youthshouldreceivecreditfromdiversionprogramsbecauseitwouldnotonlymotivatedthemtoattend,butalsobebenejicialfortheiracademic,employmentandrehabilitationsuccess.Thecreditfromdiversionprogramsshouldbeimplementedbecauseitwouldbeawaythattheyouthcouldinteractwithotheryouths.

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Sources:

Kaba,Mariame."JuvenileJusticeinIllinois:ADataSnapshot."1Apr.2014.Web.10Aug.2015.<https://chiyouthjustice.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/juvenile_justice_in_illinois.pdf>.

"Diversion|LawFacts."Diversion|LawFacts.LawFacts.Web.10Aug.2015.<http://lawfacts.ca/criminal/diversion>.

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Thereshouldbeanincreasednumberofdiversionprogramsinneighborhoodsthathavehighinstancesofyoutharrests.

Research***Generallyspeaking,completingdiversionmeansthatyouwon’thaveacriminalrecord,eitherbecausethechargeiswithdrawn,orbecausetheone-yearperiodhaspassedwithoutincidentafteryourchargehasbeenstayed.***Avoidingapossiblecriminalrecordisoftenthemainreasonwhyaccusedpersonschoosetocompletediversion.***In2012,therewereabout46,800juvenilearrestsinIllinois.Themajorityofarrestswereformisdemeanoroffenses(59%)andtwenty-jive(25%)werefelonies.

Howwillthishelp

IncentivesandAccessibilityforDiversionProgramsshouldbeimplementedbecauseitwouldgivetheyouthareasontocomeandsuccessfullycompletetheprogram.Also,theyouthwouldnothavetotravelfortocometothediversionprogramsothatmightincreaseattendance.

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Sources:

Goudie,Chuck."I-Team:ViolenceonCTAWidespread."ABC7Chicago.ABC7Chicago,20Feb.2013.Web.10Aug.2015.

http://policy.dcfs.lacounty.gov/content/Transportation_Requests.htm

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Sincecourtroomsarealreadyseparatedbydistrict,juvenilecourtshouldbeheldatafacilityneartheyouth’spolicedistrict.Bymovingthecalendarclosertotheyouth,itwouldmakeiteasierforthemtoattend.

Research***AccordingtoasurveybyMikvaChallenge’sMayoralYouthCommissionTransportationIncentivesProgram,44%ofrespondentsanswered“Can’taffordtransportation”asthereasontheydon’tgotoschool.***CountyofLosAngeleshasmentionedthatinthestatethatsomeyouthhavetroublegoingtotheircourthearingssotheyprovidetransportationforthosewhoneedit.

HowwillthishelpThisrequestwouldmakeiteasierfortheyouthasitdecreasestheamoutnoftransportationfromtheircurrentdestinationtothecourtroom.Youthwillbemorelikelytocometocourtifitismoreaccessibletogetto,.Furthermore,itwillhelpincreasetheamountofinformationpassedabouttheyouthbetweenthepoliceandthecourt.Thebettercommunicationwillensurethatthesentenceisfairbecauseeverythingabouttheyouthhasbeenfullyconsidered.