Announcement, Press Release |
The Circuit Court of Cook County, following up on the recent successes of the Restorative Justice Community Courts in North Lawndale, Avondale and Englewood, is poised to open its newest location in south suburban Sauk Village.
Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans will host a grand opening celebration of the new court at 11 a.m. Monday, July 15 at the Sauk Village Community Center, 2700 Kalvelage Dr. in Sauk Village. The celebration is open to the community and media.
“We are incredibly proud of the success of this program and believe the time is right to expand this program into suburban Cook County and give these young people the same opportunities that have been afforded to the participants of our existing Restorative Justice Community Courts,” Evans said. “In short order, I believe the community will be as proud of this venture and its participants as I am.”
County Board Commissioner Donna Miller, who represents the 6th District, said she is excited for her district to host a more empathetic and community-focused approach to justice.
“After many years of championing the Restorative Justice Community Court with Chief Judge Evans, I’m excited that the first such suburban court is opening in the south suburbs, which experience many of the same issues faced by the City, but often lack the same level of resources to address them,” Miller said.
Restorative Justice Community Courts (RJCC) assist young adults, aged 18-26, charged with non-violent felony or misdemeanor crimes reintegrate into their communities. These courts resolve conflict through restorative conferences and peace circles involving participants, victims, family members, friends, others affected by the crime and the community.
The Peace Circle process used in the courts attempts to reach a “Repair of Harm Agreement” between the participant and members of the community. The participant agrees to complete certain tasks, such as perform an act of community service, write a letter of reflection, obtain a high school equivalency diploma and/or undergo substance abuse treatment. If the participant successfully completes all the tasks set out in the agreement, his or her case will be dismissed and the offense expunged.
Victims are not required to participate. But if they choose, they may directly address the participant to express how they were hurt and what they need to heal from the crime.
For a case to be eligible for the court, the victim of the crime must agree to participate in the process. In addition, the person charged must:
Be 18 to 26 years old
Have been charged with a nonviolent felony or misdemeanor
Live, work
,or worship in one of the neighborhoods which has a community courtHave a nonviolent criminal history
Accept responsibility for the harm caused
The Hon. Ieshia Gray will preside over the Sauk Village Restorative Justice Community Court. Judge Gray was elected to the bench in 2018 and has served the Cook County Fourth Municipal District in Maywood, where she has presided over a variety of cases.
“The launch of the Sauk Village Restorative Justice Community Court represents a pivotal moment in the south suburbs, that aims to reshape our justice system and uplift our communities,” Gray said. “I am honored to serve as the presiding judge and to participate in this significant endeavor envisioned by Chief Judge Timothy Evans. It's an honor to contribute to work that promises to transform our communities.”
Sauk Village Mayor Derrick Burgess was instrumental in landing the court in the south suburbs.
“I look forward to the RJCC helping our young adults have the opportunity for a second chance when they have made a poor decision,” Burgess said. “This Program has the capability to help many young adults from our community to correct their mistakes and be more productive members of society.”
The community courts have helped hundreds of participants reform their lives and avoid further contact with the criminal justice system. An internal study by the Office of the Chief Judge has found that, among individuals who have been graduated from restorative justice courts for at least a year, just 13.3 percent were charged with a new offense, compared to 65.2 percent of those from similar circumstances in a matched control group who were not in an RJCC program.
Follow the court on X @CookCntyCourt