UNIT I - GENERAL PROVISIONS
D. Terminology (705 ILCS 405/1-3), continued:
22. Ward of the Court (16): A minor who has been so adjudged under Sections 2-22 (Abused, Neglect, and Dependent), 3-23 (Minors Requiring Authoritative Intervention), 4-20 (Addicted and Dependent), or 5-705 (Delinquent), after a finding of the requisite jurisdictional facts, and thus is subject to the dispositional powers of the court under the Juvenile Court Act.
In comparison, an adult is found 'Guilty' of a crime in an adult criminal proceeding while a minor is deemed a 'Ward of the Court' in a Juvenile Court proceeding.
23. "Dissemination" or "disseminate" means to publish, produce, print, manufacture, distribute, sell, lease, exhibit, broadcast, display, transmit, or otherwise share information in any format so as to make the information accessible to others.
24. "Expunge" means to physically destroy the records and to obliterate the minor's name from any official index, public record, or electronic database.
25. "Juvenile court record" includes, but is not limited to: all documents filed in or maintained by the juvenile court pertaining to a specific incident, proceeding, or individual; all documents relating to a specific incident, proceedings, or individual made available to or maintained by probation officers; all documents, video or audio tapes, photographs and exhibits admitted into evidence at juvenile court hearings; or all documents, transcripts, records, reports, or other evidence prepared by, maintained by, or released by any municipal, county, or State agency or department, in any format, if indicating involvement with the juvenile court relating to a specific incident, proceeding, or individual.
26. "Juvenile law enforcement record" includes records of arrest, station adjustments, fingerprints, probation adjustments, the issuance of a notice to appear, or any other records or documents maintained by any law enforcement agency relating to a minor suspected of committing an offense, and records maintained by a law enforcement agency that identifies a juvenile as a suspect in committing an offense, but does not include records identifying a juvenile as a victim, witness, or missing juvenile and any records created, maintained, or used for purposes of referral to programs relating to diversion as defined in subsection (6) of Section 5-105.
27. "Significant event report" means a written document describing an occurrence or event beyond the customary operations, routines, or relationships in the Department of Children of Family Services, a child care facility, or other entity that is licensed or regulated by the Department of Children of Family Services or that provides services for the Department of Children of Family Services under a grant, contract, or purchase of service agreement; involving children or youth, employees, foster parents, or relative caregivers; allegations of abuse or neglect or any other incident raising a concern about the well-being of a minor under the jurisdiction of the court under Article II of the Juvenile Court Act; incidents involving damage to property, allegations of criminal activity, misconduct, or other occurrences affecting the operations of the Department of Children of Family Services or a child care facility; any incident that could have media impact; and unusual incidents as defined by Department of Children and Family services rule.
