Kane sees rise in juvenile court cases

Young offenders charged with weapons offenses are showing up more often in Kane County's juvenile court, authorities said.

The state attorney's juvenile division has roughly 555 new cases so far this year, about half of the 1,038 new cases which were handled by the office last year.

Prosecutor Debra Bree, a juvenile court supervisor, said several of this year's cases involve young people arrested during traffic stops or at school with weapons.

"We'll find a gun in the seat or a gun in the waistband," Bree said Tuesday. "Or they're bringing a knife to school for protection."

There's also been an increase so far this year in juvenile charges stemming from school disturbances, such as threats or graffiti, Bree said.

Juvenile court deals with offenders up to 17 years old and has a caseload which, aside from minor traffic cases, covers the gamut of misdemeanor and felony offenses. Adults and juveniles appear in traffic court together.

Although the types of offenses are similar to adult courts, there are differences. For example, jury trials don't take place in juvenile court, and there's more sentencing options for young offenders.

Depending on the crime, a juvenile could be ordered to attend counseling or a stint on electronic home monitoring. There's also special placement schools, juvenile detention, prison or the case could be transferred to adult court.

"The hope is that we'll give them enough choices and that they'll make better choices in life," Bree said. "You don't want to take a 14-year-old and throw him away, but you still want to keep your community safe."

On Monday, Kane County Judge Karen Simpson will start a term on the bench in the county's juvenile court. Also, the state's attorney's office is rotating in three prosecutors who've been working in the adult courts.

It's a tour of duty for junior prosecutors taken seriously by State's Attorney John Barsanti, who was assigned to juvenile court as a young prosecutor and knows the cases often yield valuable experience.

The juvenile court now is in a separate building in the county justice complex and typically doesn't have high-profile cases, but Barsanti said it's a challenge not to let the court become the "elephant's graveyard" of his office.

"There's a lot to do over there and a lot to learn over there," Barsanti said. "I normally don't view it as a court for a brand-new lawyer. You've got to have a few years under your belt."