ILLINOIS JUVENILE COURT ACT OF 1987 - UNIT 1

UNIT I - GENERAL PROVISIONS (ARTICLE I - 705 ILCS 405/1-2)

The intent of this unit is to provide students with an overview of the general provisions of the revised Illinois Juvenile Court Act of 1987. In this section, students will examine the Act and the relationship between it and an Officer's effectiveness in controlling crime, since a majority of crimes against persons and property are committed by offenders under the age of 21. The procedural and legal responsibilities of Law Enforcement Officers and Juvenile Officers, the ways in which Juvenile Police Officers deal with minors on a frequent and/or daily basis, and current case law pertaining to juveniles who come into contact with law enforcement officers will be examined in detail.

By the end of this segment, students will be able to identify and describe the Juvenile Police Officer's responsibilities when dealing with juvenile offenders. Furthermore, students will be able to define and use terminologies specific to the Illinois Juvenile Court system, which are different than those used in the adult system. By the end of this Juvenile Court Act review, students will be able to do the following:

1. Cite the purpose of the Illinois Juvenile Court Act and the policies contained in it.


2. Recognize cases in which the termination of parental rights may be appropriate.


3. Cite the legal rights that children have under the Act.

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