Naperville abuse case prompts attempt to change law

SPRINGFIELD - In the wake of a Naperville middle school abuse case, a panel of state lawmakers today supported letting school officials move students accused of crimes to alternative education programs.

Just a week ago, a different legislative committee rejected the idea, saying it was too far reaching and expressing concern over moving children out of classrooms when they've not been convicted of doing anything wrong.

However, that rejection sparked local outrage and statewide support for the proposal being pressed by Naperville Republican state Rep. Darlene Senger.

On Wednesday, with support from Democratic leadership, her plan was moved to a House education committee and approved 14-4. The House Juvenile Justice Reform Committee had narrowly rejected it last week. Senger said she thought it should have gone through the education committee all along and was pleased to make progress.

"It was important to my district, for crying out loud," Senger said afterward.

The proposal to empower local school officials to act on allegations of off-campus criminal behavior follows a high-profile, shocking incident of sexual abuse among middle school students in Naperville's Indian Prairie Unit District 204.

Police say an attack involving Gregory Middle School students occurred Nov. 11 in a home on Naperville's south side. The alleged victim's parents wanted the accused students removed from the school. A 12-year-old and 11-year-old face felony charges of criminal sexual abuse and criminal sexual assault. The 11-year-old also faces a misdemeanor count of battery in a separate, in-school incident involving the same alleged victim.

Recently, one of the accused transferred out of District 204 to Lincoln Junior High School in neighboring Naperville Unit District 203. A court order is keeping the other student at Gregory Middle School but 100 feet away from that classmate.

School officials have said their options are limited under current law because the incident occurred off school grounds.

Senger's proposal, which now advances to the full House, allows school officials to immediately send students facing certain, forcible felony charges to an alternative school program.

A near identical proposal was filed in the Senate by Winfield Republican Randy Hultgren and approved by a Senate committee.