ISBA President Hassakis launches series of visits to state juvenile detention facilities

ISBA President Mark D. Hassakis made the first of several planned visits to Illinois juvenile detention centers last Friday, spending four hours touring the facility and talking to staff at IYC/Chicago on North Western Avenue. The visits are part of his commitment as president to focus attention on how to improve our juvenile justice system. What he found at IYC was a relatively well-maintained center housing 79 juveniles. Average age? Fifteen. A small but dedicated staff eagerly searching for ways to educate and rehabilitate the youth, taking a positive approach to changing behaviors by implementing programs to foster change. Lack of funding means that key posts go unfilled, and each staff member frequently does the job of 3-4 workers. Incarcerated youth have access to an array of programs and activities, including community baseball, a storytelling program with a Storycatchers Theater component and an animal humane education program that includes animal training. Hands-on experience with urban gardening, basic training in good manners, and a Career Cruising program are developing.  Most youth also have work-related tasks in the center. “There is no formal vocational training, with only a few computers and no access to the Internet,” Hassakis said.  “Their automotive repair manuals are over 25 years old, yet a career as a mechanic could be a great option for some teens,” he explained. “If we’re going to rehabilitate these youth, we must ensure that they have access to education that will help them become productive, self-sufficient adults.” At IYC, visitation hours have been doubled, encouraging more family visits and also mentor visits by an ardent group of volunteers.  The facility offers a rewards program, with points allocated for good behavior that are redeemable for products like special snack or personal hygiene items. Disciplinary measures take the form of a blue suit.  Wearing a blue jumpsuit for 3 to 6 days –a form of the Scarlet Letter – means you have committed an infraction and must forego certain privileges, such as group gym activities. “The next few years are crucial for juvenile justice reform,” said Hassakis.  “If the legal community works together, we can be a catalyst for change that ultimately helps juveniles become assets to their communities and ensure that they have happy and productive lives.”