Kane County's deferred prosecution programs yield success

Most law breakers who complete Kane County pretrial deferred prosecution programs for nonviolent crimes don't reoffend.

So said Pam Bradley at the May meeting of the Citizen Police Academy Alumni of Aurora at Aurora Police headquarters Tuesday, May 12.

Bradley directs the Kane County State's Attorney's Community Outreach program and Law Enforcement Youth Academy, a summer program that acquaints youth ages 14-18 with the criminal justice system.

According to Bradley, Kane County launched a diversion program in 1995 for nonviolent, first-time offenders.

Since then, she said, fewer than eight percent of offenders who completed a diversion program have reoffended.

In 2014, the Kane State's Attorney's Office accepted 168 men and 11 women for deferred prosecution. Re-offenders included two men and a woman violated her diversion agreement.

The number of programs has grown to five - felony/misdemeanor; misdemeanor drug and alcohol, domestic violence, felony drug and solicitation/prostitution

About 80 percent of roughly 5,000 participants have successfully completed the programs.

Programs have specific expectations for successful completion, such as counseling and community service. Programs also have disqualifying factors, such as the offender's criminal history and the severity of the crime.

Programs require an application fee that can be adjusted based on the offender's ability to pay.

All applicants are screened and must be accepted into the program.

Upon successful completion, the state's attorney agrees to dismiss pending charges against the defendant.

Negative termination means prosecution of the criminal case will resume.

Bradley added that the 2015 Law Enforcement Youth Academy will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from June 22 to Aug. 5 at the Aurora Police headquarters, 1200 E. Indian Trail. A graduation ceremony is set for Aug. 6.

Students will learn about police procedures, evidence collection, mock traffic stops, SWAT team, DEA, K-9, FBI by meeting with law-enforcement officials, Kane State's Attorney's Office lawyers, judges and elected officials.

Registration closed May 1.

Alexia Jones, a graduate of the academy, briefly discussed her experiences in the program.

Call (630) 262-5107 for more information.