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R-73-04M RESOLUTION NO. R -73- 4 RESOLUTION APPROVING DEERFIELD YOUTH'JURY PROGRAM'' BE IT RESOLVED BY THE PRESIDENT AND BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE VILLAGE OF DEERFIELD, LAKE AND COOK COUNTIES, ILLINOIS, that they do hereby evidence their approval of the Deerfield Youth Jury Program, as described in the pamphlet marked Exhibit A and attached hereto and made a part hereof and do, further, instruct and direct the Chief of Police and members of the Village Police Department to participate and cooperate fully in such program toward the end of achieving a successful implementation thereof. AYES: FIVE (5) NAYS: NONE (0) ABSENT: ONE (1) PASSED this 5th' day of � February � � � � ' A.D. 1973. APPROVED this 5th day Of... February •A. D. 1973. ATTEST: VILLAGE CLERK ILLAGE PRESIDENT THE DEERFIELD: YOUTH JURY 1973 Prepared by the Deerfield Action Council for Teens Sponsored by the Deerfield Optimist Club THE DEERFIELD YOUTH JURY THE DEERFIELD YOUTH JURY - ITS PURPOSE The Deerfield Youth Jury is being developed in Deerfield by the Action Council for Teens and is sponsored by the Deerfield Optimist Club. The Jury will consist of a group of high school age students who act as counsel to the Judge of the Circuit Court of Lake County, Illinois, Magistrates' Division. The purpose of the Jury is to serve the community by providing a tool for reducing juvenile offenses, rehabilitating youth offenders and acquainting the youth in the community with juvenile law and court procedures. The effectiveness of the Youth Jury can be understood as one realizes that members of a peer group can determine the type of punishment which will be the most meaningful to the offender in the rehabilitative process. THE YOUTH JURY'S FUNCTION The Youth Jury will hear cases concerning minor misdemeanors, including offenses such as minor theft, curfew violations and minor vandalism. The Jury only advises the Judge and does not pass judgment or determine the guilt of the youth offenders. The Judge may or may not accept the recom- mendation and may reject it or change it as he sees fit. The offender has the opportunity to accept the punishment or be referred back to the Youth Officer for formal action. At all times, the youth offen- der and his or her parents have the right to withdraw from the Youth Jury program. The program is a voluntary one and is not forced upon anyone. THE ROLE OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT The Youth Jury could not function without the cooperation and active parti- cipation of the Youth Officer of the Police Department, All Youth offenders are under the jurisdiction of the Youth Officer. After an offense has been committed, it is the Youth Officer who interviews the youngsters in the presence of the parents, determines the seriousness of the offense, and decides - according to the individual, his record and the offense the way in which he will channel each case. Should the case be eligible for the Youth Jury, the parents and the offender are informed of the Jury system and they decide the way in which they prefer the case to be processed. If the Youth Jury is the final choice, the Youth Officer will present the Youth at the next regular meeting of the Youth Jury. The offender and parents are once more reminded by the Judge of the offender's Constitutional rights. -2- The Youth Officer explains the offense and any important background in- formation to the Judge and the Jury. The offender and the Youth Officer remain in the Court Room until the Judge accepts or changes the recommen- dation returned by the Jury. After an offender completes an assigned work project, the Youth Officer receives an evaluation of the youth's work and attitude from the agency. He returns once more to the Court Room with the youth for final release or further work. In such cases as he deems necessary, the Officer may also request a period of probation to assess the actual rehabilitation. In the past, for minor offenses, it has been the police policy to make a station adjustment with a warning and perhaps a period of probation to follow .up. The new jury system is actually a very impressive station adjustment procedure. The warning is strengthened by appearances in the Court before the Judge and the Youth jury and a work project is prescribed to serve in the future to act as a reminder to the offender of his offense. The Youth Jury will deal only with first offenders unless the Youth Officer decides otherwise. SELECTION OF TURORS Membership in the Deerfield Youth Jury is open to all youth of high school age in the Village of Deerfield. A individual who is interested in be- coming a juror must go through a brief training session involving Court pro- cedures and juvenile law. HOW THE JURY REHABILITATES It is felt that the offender will gain far more from his experience by working than through other means of punishment. For this reason, every punishment recommended by the Youth Jury will be in terms of work hours. Each offen- der will be asked to work a certain number of hours at a predetermined place of business. The Jury's Rehabilitation Committee will work with the Police, the Fire De- partment, the Park District, the Village Hall and other participating busi- nesses or agencies in finding places for the offenders to work. Each month the Rehabilitation Committee will determine available work projects from participating agencies or businesses. The list of projects is made available to the Jury before the Court is in session. It is then up to the Jury members to select the work project that best suits the offense and the offender. The number of work hours will vary with each offense and the circumstances of each case. The work projects will include such things as cleaning windows, raking leaves, and other manual labor types of work. -3- WHAT PROCEDURE WILL THE YOUTH JURY FOLLOW? The Jury will meet prior to the Court session to be briefed on the punish- ments available for the month. Once in the Court Room, after the jurors have taken their places and the Judge is announced, the Youth Officer presents the first case to the Judge and jury. After the Jury hears the case and the Judge's remarks, the Jury retires to the Jury chambers with the offender. The Jury then asks questions of the offender, seeking to find underlying circumstances and the offender's character and attitudes. This will better help the Jury to fit the punishment to the offense and the person. After the offender returns to the Court Room, the jury. decides - in private - its recommendation for punishment. The necessary forms ,are filled out and the Jury returns to the Court Room and turns over its recommendation to the Judge, who makes any necessary changes and then signs the form. Copies of the punishment are distributed to the defendant, the Youth Jury Rehabilitation Committee, the Youth Jury Rehabilitation Agency, the Judge, and the Youth Officer. After the offender completes his work project, the adult in charge of the offender on the job writes an evaluation of the offender's work and attitude. He sends the evaluation to the Court. The offender is called back, where- upon the evaluation is reviewed. The Judge then asks the Jury to give .a recommendation concerning the disposition of the case. The Judge then makes the final decision as to release or more work. At no time will the adult supervisor force the individual to work. His only responsibility is for the evaluation of the work. accomplished. The offender is held responsible for the completion of his work assignment. SERVING ON THE JURY Assigning jurors for duty and training is the responsibility of the Youth Jury Membership Committee. At each session, at least eight jurors and three alternates are to be present. The alternates shall replace any of the eight j -1arors in case of absence or if a juror wishes to be removed from a specific case for personal reasons, such as the offender's being a personal friend or if the juror has some personal pre- judice about the offense. The alternate must also observe a,Court session before he is a juror. WHEN DOES THE YOUTH JURY MEET The Youth jury will meet every third Monday of each month. The Court will be held in a location yet to be determined.