Casework probation officers supervise juveniles on probation and court supervision. With the help of a validated risk assessment tool, the probation officer works with the juvenile and their family to create a plan for success. Plans frequently include formal and informal interventions/services targeting areas of risk and individual need. Both support and accountability are provided to assist with compliance of all court ordered conditions. The probation officer is responsible for maintaining complete and accurate records and providing written reports to the Court.
The Community Service Program screens and secures community service worksites for all juveniles ordered to complete community service hours. Program staff are responsible for ensuring juveniles accomplish the work and verify completion of the hours. The Court can impose community service hours monitored by Probation as a condition of Probation or Court Supervision. The following factors are taken into consideration when placing a juvenile at a community service worksite: criminal history, physical and mental health history, work schedule, skills, interests and transportation. Community Service is an opportunity for juveniles to give back to the community and make amends for their behavior. It also provides an opportunity to acquire job skills and experience a sense of accomplishment.
Pursuant to 705 ILCS 405/5-305, the State's Attorney's Office may authorize a juvenile probation officer to schedule a preliminary conference with a minor who is alleged to have committed an offense, his or her parent/guardian, the victim, the referring police officer, and any other interested persons to determine if the matter can be handled without the filing of a petition.
A preliminary conference is an opportunity for a minor who has been arrested to have their case handled without formal court involvement. During a preliminary conference, the probation officer will discuss the details of the offense with the minor and their parent/guardian(s). If the minor takes responsibility for their behavior and agrees to abide by a Probation Adjustment Plan, the minor will be placed on Informal Supervision with a Probation Officer. The period of Informal Supervision can last up to 12 months.
At the end of Informal Supervision, if all conditions of the Probation Adjustment planned have been fulfilled, the minor will be satisfactorily terminated, and their case will be closed without court involvement. Should the minor be rearrested while on the Informal Supervision or fail to complete all of their conditions set forth in the adjustment plan, the matter will be referred to the States Attorney’s Office where a Delinquency Petition may be filed in Juvenile Court.
Home Detention may be ordered by the Court for juveniles residing in DuPage County with a delinquency petition pending or as part of a sentence on a delinquency petition. Juveniles placed on home detention are electronically monitored and are only allowed to leave their residence for school, work, counseling, or a pre-approved activity with their parent/guardian. Home Detention offers the Court an alternative to secure detention while providing added safety to the community. It affords the juvenile the opportunity to remain in their home and maintain continued participation in school and/or work.
DuPage County currently contracts with the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center in St. Charles to house their detained youthful offenders.
Information about visitation, the behavior program curriculum, education classes, and general facility details can be found by clicking on the following link: Juvenile Justice Center (countyofkane.org)
Please contact the Kane County Juvenile Justice Center at (630) 406-7480 to schedule a time to speak with or visit your child and for any questions you may have during their stay.
Kane County Juvenile Justice Center
37W655 IL Rt 38
St. Charles, Illinois
Link for directions to the facility from your location: Kane County Juvenile Justice Center- MapQuest
For additional resources for families, see the attachment: DuPage County Juvenile Justice Referrals
The Intensive Probation Services (IPS) Program provides increased supervision for juveniles struggling to maintain law abiding behavior in the community. IPS provides increased monitoring though frequent contact in the community, homes and schools. Electronic monitoring (GPS) is regularly used for enhanced supervision and enforcing restrictions.
Juveniles on IPS must abide by a curfew depending on their level of supervision within the program, refrain from operating a motor vehicle, remain in the county unless given prior authorization to leave and are restricted from associating with others who are in the juvenile or criminal justice systems. Each youth on IPS receives case planning services to develop a strategy to successfully complete the program. Referrals are made to appropriate programs and services such as individual, family and group counseling, substance abuse treatment, employment services, and community service projects.
Any juvenile that has a Juvenile Delinquency Petition filed in Court where the alleged offense is of a sexual nature, may be ordered to complete a Sex Offender Evaluation. Any minor found guilty of an offense as defined by the Sex Offender Management Board Act shall be required as part of the social investigation, to submit to a Sex Offender Evaluation. The evaluation shall be performed in compliance with the standards developed under the Sex Offender Management Board Act and by an evaluator approved by the Board.
The Juvenile Sex Offender (JSO) Program is a community-based tiered supervision program that emphasizes community safety, relapse prevention, and a family-centered approach to case management for juveniles who have sexually offended. The JSO Caseload is supervised by a Probation Officer who has received specialized training.
The Probation Officer works closely with a network of approved treatment providers and evaluators in order to provide specialized, evidence-based treatment that is individualized for each juvenile. Additionally, the JSO Program emphasizes specialized conditions, safety planning, regular communication with treatment providers, ongoing assessment of risk, and compliance with Juvenile Sex Offender Registration requirements.
Social history investigations are ordered by the Court after a finding of guilt on a delinquency petition. The minor and his/her parents/guardians are ordered to cooperate with an interview with a probation officer to provide information for the social history report.
The probation officer will also gather information from the minor’s school, counseling/treatment providers, law enforcement, and other agencies in order to provide assistance to the Court for the Sentencing Hearing. The report provides the minor an opportunity to address the Court in their own words, and an opportunity for the victim to explain the physical, financial and/or emotional harm caused to them as a result of the offense.
Step-Up is a domestic violence treatment program designed to work with juveniles who have become violent with a parent or caregiver. Step-Up is a twenty-one-week group counseling program for the juvenile and their parents. Step-Up helps participants learn and practice skills to prevent the use of violence and resolve conflict with respectful communication. It can be used at the Diversion, Supervision or Probation level. Juveniles who are detained as the result of an override on an arrest for Domestic Battery are screened for Step-up prior to their Detention Hearing.
Strong Roots Family Therapy is an intensive outcome-driven intervention for juveniles who have demonstrated a range of delinquent behaviors. Juvenile Justice Clinicians provide community-based services, between one and two sessions per week, to juveniles and their families who are under the supervision of the Probation Department.
