Youth Incarceration
The Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, one of the largest in the country, houses more than 100 young people accused of crimes. We write about conditions inside the JTDC and other youth jails and prisons throughout the state.
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Former Juvenile Temporary Detention Center employee Kevin Walker was acquitted last month of charges related to the incident, which left a 15-year-old boy bruised and unconscious.
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Leonard Dixon stepping down as head of Cook County juvenile detention center
The superintendent of one of the country’s largest juvenile jails is resigning Dec. 1 after a decade-long tenure marked by controversy.
Former Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center employee found not guilty in incident that left a 15-year-old boy unconscious and bruised
The verdict highlights the challenges of holding detention center staff accountable for alleged abuse, advocates say.
Superintendent of Chicago’s youth jail might not live here, records show
Leonard Dixon has run the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center — one of the largest youth jails in the country — for a decade. Records and interviews suggest he might not live in Chicago and is rarely seen at the facility.
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Former juvenile jail superintendent lived in Chicago, report says
Injustice Watch reported last year that Leonard Dixon, who ran the Cook County juvenile detention center for a decade, owned property and voted in Michigan.
Rare criminal trial of former Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center employee expected to start Thursday
Kevin Walker is charged with aggravated battery and official misconduct for allegedly throwing a handcuffed 15-year-old boy to the floor in December 2023, causing a head injury.
Illinois lawmakers demand probe of Chicago center for troubled youth
When foster children were physically and sexually abused at a South Side facility, state officials tried to backdate documents. Injustice Watch exposed the abuses and shoddy oversight – and now state lawmakers are calling for a comprehensive audit
Cook County plans to replace juvenile detention center with smaller ‘centers of care’
Fewer than 50 kids are expected to remain in the juvenile jail, while most kids will be released post-arrest or held in semi-secure, community-based facilities, according to a proposal from Chief Judge Timothy Evans’ office.
Illinois judge closes juvenile detention center after ‘facility in crisis’ fails to meet new state standards
The Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center abruptly closed on Dec. 31. The judge who ordered the closure said staffing shortages made it difficult to meet state standards for caring for youth in custody.
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