On the recordNovember 3, 2011
as a proponent of smart and fair crime policies, as well as improving the effectiveness of the juvenile justice system, I would like to commend my home State of Illinois for its recent reforms in this area. I have long supported and sponsored legislation in Congress to ensure that children are treated appropriately, whether they are sexually exploited victims who do not belong in the criminal justice system, or whether they commit crimes and deserve targeted assistance or punishment. As one of several States in the Nation moving away from a punishment-based juvenile justice system and toward one of rehabilitation and prevention, Illinois has been nationally recognized for its progress. Two recent laws in particular have advanced our treatment of youth in the criminal justice system in Illinois. First, as of January 1, 2010, 17-year-old misdemeanants in Illinois are no longer automatically filtered into the adult justice system. Under Public Act 95-1031, 17-year-olds charged with misdemeanors will now have access to the juvenile courts rather than the adult system. This change will allow more youth to participate in much-needed rehabilitation services such as mental health, drug treatment, and community-based services. In addition, the state legislature took another step forward by enacting Public Act 96-1199 last year.…
