Chicago Court To Experiment With 'Restorative Justice' Model
Community Court To Be In Session
(CBS) -- The Cook County Court system plans to set up a first of its kind "community court" in the Lawndale neighborhood giving residents a role in resolving crimes in their midst.
WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore reports.
Cook County Judge Colleen Sheehan will preside over the so-called "Restorative Justice Community Court." Only certain cases are eligible.
The defendant must be between 18 and 26 years old, and be charged with a non-violent felony or misdemeanor.
The defendant would sit down with the victims, and other community members, to talk about what would satisfy the victim and find out why the offender felt driven to do wrong. The judge says there might be drug abuse or mental issues.
"So many victims, I find them to be very generous," Sheehan says. "That may mean they just look to the young person and say, 'I don't want this to happen again. I don't want you necessarily to go to jail, or have a felony conviction, but I want you to get on the right path.'"
And here's where this court is different: A local community partner in this endeavor would provide services to the young person and mentoring to deal with their problems.
The pilot program will be funded by a $200,000 Justice Department grant. The court could be in session early next year.
