New Statewide Juvenile Screening Process Goes Live Across Illinois Detention Centers
A new statewide tool to determine whether to detain a child or not has been put into use across Illinois juvenile detention centers, aiming to create more consistent decisions across the state after years of fragmented approaches.
Illinois Courts Standardize Juvenile Detention Decisions After Years of Fragmented Approach
All juvenile detention centers in Illinois are now using the same screening process to determine whether to detain children following arrests. The statewide tool was put into use Monday and will help ensure more consistent decisions across the state.
The Administrative Office of Illinois Courts started developing the process during the pandemic after similar circumstances were getting different decisions at different facilities. The process started by compiling statewide data on juvenile screenings and detainments.
Based on the research, the AOIC created a screening document that will be used by every facility across the state. The goal is to create a more consistent system across all facilities that matches youths' needs to community resources.
Factors Considered Include Age, Sex, Race and Prior Crimes
Some factors considered during the study included a juvenile's sex, their age, their race, and if they committed any other crimes while waiting for their original case to be decided.
The tool is used after a youth is arrested to assist the decision-making process if the youth needs to be detained or released at the time of arrest. This tool brings greater consistency statewide and best matches the youths' needs to community resources, according to the AOIC.
Sangamon County Has Been Using Parameters Since June 2025
Locally, Sangamon County has been using the parameters since June 2025. Kent Holsopple, Director of Court Services in Sangamon County, told us the new tool has been very effective.
"It's been very effective. It really was not a major change from what we were doing before," Holsopple said. He added that they've had no issues during the first year of implementation.
Holsopple and AnnMarie Latzo told us the new tool hasn't changed operations very much. They say they are in communication with local law enforcement and other partners in the area and in the state.
Cook County Was Final Group to Implement System
Cook County was the final group to put the screening document into practice. Monday marks the first time the whole state is using the same system for juvenile screening.
Latzo, the superintendent at the Sangamon County Juvenile Detention Center, said they're working towards trying to be one state instead of 102 different counties. They're always going to be working towards trying to work better together.
We requested a sample copy of the new tool from the AOIC. You can view Sangamon County's previously in-use screening document.