Nicasa Teen Court grant

Nicasa’s Teen Court program was one of only 10 in the country to receive a grant from the Federal Center for Substance Abuse and Treatment, officials announced. The grant is for $200,000 a year for three years to fund enhanced and expanded services to the program, said Lorrie George-Baskin, director of Development for Nicasa. The grant will allow Nicasa to more closely link early intervention and treatment options to its Teen Court program. Nicasa opened its first Teen Court in the Round Lake area in 1996. Now, with seven courts serving 18 communities, it is the largest administrator of Teen Court in Illinois. Teen Court is a collaborative effort between Nicasa and participating police departments and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. As an alternative to the traditional court system, the program targets first-time juvenile offenders who have admitted guilt to crimes such a theft, curfew, trespassing, and possession of drugs or alcohol.