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What's New in Youth Justice

  • NEW DETENTION LAW: Governor Pritzker has just signed Public Act 104-0449, a Juvenile Detention Reform Bill which gradually increases the minimum age for the detention of Illinois youth from 10 to 13, and creates a commission to study the viability of raising the age to 14. Read full text of the new law: here. 
  • The JDRC is taking internship applications for Summer 2026. Interns may be remote, hybrid, or in-person out of the Chicago office. Interns applying for the JDRC will support the work of attorneys statewide who are representing youth in delinquency and criminal court. Interns will be given research and writing opportunities on discrete, time-sensitive matters as well as larger collaborative projects. To apply, submit a cover letter, resume, and a writing sample in PDF format (preferably as one file, with the file name beginning with your name, e.g., “Jane Doe Application” or “Jane Doe Resume,” “Jane Doe Writing Sample”, etc.”) to: JDRC@osad.state.il.us by January 31, 2026. 
  • The JDRC continues to add free on-demand classes to its CLE library for members! Click HERE  for more details.
  • The JDRC has limited funds available in its Trial Attorney Assistance Program for FY 2025-26. These funds may be used for expert evaluations and/or witnesses or investigators and are open to public defenders and appointed counsel representing youth under the age of 18. For more information or to apply for funding, email us at JDRC@OSAD.state.il.us.
  • The Juvenile Justice Initiative has just published its issue brief, " Keeping the Promise of Juvenile Court: The Failed Experiment of Trying and Sentencing Children in Adult Court in Illinois." The brief looks at the impact of the transfer system in Illinois. Read it HERE
  • The JDRC Youth Case Law Summaries have been updated through May 31, 2025.

Our Mission

 

To promote excellence in juvenile defense, and fairness for all youth in conflict with the law, through the development of model systems, advocacy, training, and resources.



YOUTH DATA RESOURCES

Life Sentences Database from Duke University Law School: 
https://wcsj-dukelaw.shinyapps.io/life-sentences-dashboard/

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority- Juvenile Dashboard: 
https://icjia.illinois.gov/researchhub/datasets/
illinois-juvenile-justice-data-dashboard-dataset/

Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission Reports:
https://ijjc.illinois.gov/resources
/publications/reports/

Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice:
https://idjj.illinois.gov/about-us/data-and-reports.html

The Sentencing Project-Disparities in Youth Sentencing Fact Sheets: Sentencing Fact Sheets 







 

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