This handbook guides attorneys in protecting the rights of juvenile clients and in dealing with the unique problems faced by minors who become involved with the legal system. This handbook covers issues concerning predelinquent behavior in which juveniles are engaging in wrongful, but not necessarily criminal, behavior and delinquency in which juveniles are alleged to have committed criminal acts. Specific topics include status offenses, diversion and pre-adjudication disposition, transfer of jurisdiction, trial, proceedings after trial and sentencing, post-disposition review, and federal juvenile law and practice. The handbook is full of hands-on information for attorneys to use in their practice such as a listing of terms and their definitions relevant for juvenile justice motions, trials, pleas, and appeals; guidance on the steps of a trial from interviewing witnesses to opening statements to cross-examination, along with sample examinations; and a list of first steps in a juvenile law case.
Chapter 1 — Introduction to Juvenile Justice
M. Katherine Roller,Cook County Public Defender’s Office, Chicago
Chapter 2 — Obtaining Services for Children — Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice
Garien Gatewood,Illinois Justice Project, Chicago
Chapter 3 — Status Offenses: Minor Requiring Authoritative Intervention; Truant Minor in Need of Supervision; Minor in Need of Supervision, and Addicted Minors
Catherine M. Ryan, Maryville Academy, Des Plaines
Chapter 4 — Diversion and Pre-Adjudication Disposition
Maryam Ahmad,Juvenile Justice Bureau, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Chicago
Chapter 5 — Transfer of Jurisdiction
Alison R. Flaum, Children & Family Justice Center, Bluhm Legal Clinic Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, Chicago
Chapter 6 — Delinquency Motions, Trials, Pleas, and Appeals
Maryam Ahmad,Juvenile Justice Bureau, Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Chicago
Chapter 7 — Proceeding After Trial, Sentencing
Diane N. Walsh,Office of the Chief Judge, Cook County Juvenile Court, and Nicholas A. Youngblood,Office of the Cook County Public Guardian Cook County Juvenile Center, Chicago
Chapter 8 — Post-Disposition Review
Nicholas A. Kantas,Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, Chicago
Chapter 9 — Federal Juvenile Law and Practice
Elizabeth Powell Butler, Attorney at Law, Skokie
