CLC's Judicial Services celebrates 25 years of community learning and service

In the past 25 years, the College of Lake County's Judicial Services department has helped improve the quality of life in Lake County by training more than half a million people to be safer drivers and better parents and by supporting many community efforts to improve safety, reduce underage drinking and much more.

To celebrate this milestone, Judicial Services hosted a celebration Oct. 4 at the CLC Grayslake Campus with the 19th Judicial Circuit Court to recognize the award-winning educational programs and thank long-time instructors and those who support their work. At the event, the Honorable Jorge Ortiz, Chief Judge of the 19th Circuit Court, remarked on the great partnership the court has with the college, one that provides for the safety of motorists, helps parents through difficult family changes and mentors those on probation to become better citizens.

Officials attending the anniversary included six judges from the 19th Judicial Circuit; CLC Board of Trustees Vice Chair Dr. Philip Carrigan; Jeffrey Hofstetter, senior director of state and court programs of the National Safety Council; and representatives from the Lake County State's Attorney office, Lake County Chiefs of Police, National Safety Council and the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists.

CLC's Judicial Services' services include Defensive driving courses teen drivers and adults with minor traffic violations; Family Parenting Program for parents of minor children seeking a divorce; Court Services Program to provide volunteers to assist Adult and Juvenile Probation with mentoring, tutoring, clerical assistance and group reporting; and the live victim impact panel, where victims of DUI tragedies speak to first-time DUI offenders of the impact a DUI crime had on their families and loved ones. Judge-Ortiz and Jeffrey-Hofstetter

Photo: Jeffrey Hofstetter (on right) of the National Safety Council presents to Jorge Ortiz, Chief Judge of the 19th Circuit Court, an award recognizing the National Safety Council's partnership with CLC and the court.

In addition, Judicial Services supports and hosts community-wide education and safety events such as the Girl-Wise Conference, Lake County Underage Drinking Prevention Task Force, Mundelein STAND UP Coalition and National Safety Council Teen Driver Safety Forums.

Judicial Services has received numerous awards, including Program Excellence from the National Association of Counties and Illinois Community College Board and the Liberty Bell Award from the 19th Judicial Circuit in 2002. The National Safety Council has recognized CLC every year for its programming, including Star Award DDC-Online, Best Performance DDC-4 and Trend Setter DDC-Alive at 25.

For information, visit www.clcillinois.edu/aboutclc/depts/cda, call (847) 543-2185 or email judicialservices@clcillinois.edu.