(Decatur, IL) — Millikin University, in collaboration with the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Andreas Foundation, is pleased to announce that the new Macon County Teen Justice program will be operated and managed by Millikin University starting August 1, 2017.
Formerly known as Macon County Teen Court, the Teen Justice program will move from a government based setting to a university setting. The program will be an ongoing performance learning site for Millikin criminal justice students and support Millikin’s new Criminal Justice major coming to the university in the fall of 2018.
Teen Justice is a voluntary diversion program for first-time offenders between the ages of nine and 17 who have been arrested for criminal offenses in Macon County. Youth participants are presented with opportunities to attend diversion hearings as an alternative to juvenile court. Rather than deciding guilt or innocence, the program volunteers create service plans for the participants to complete within a three-month period. If participants successfully complete the program, no charges are ever filed in the criminal courts.
The Teen Justice program relies on several key partners in the community to help make the program a success, including the Macon County Sherriff’s Office, Decatur Police Department. Decatur Park District, local school districts and school district personnel and the Regional Office of Education #39.
Millikin President Dr. Patrick White said, “this partnership with the Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Andreas Foundation serves as one more example of Millikin University’s key role as Decatur’s University.”
Additional learning opportunities, research projects, and hands-on experiences will be available for criminal justice students with the Teen Justice Program positioned on Millikin’s campus.