Law & Order column: Grant will provide rehabilitation rather than incarceration for Lake County youths - Chicago Tribune

The Lake County court system recently announced that it has received a grant that will provide programs for youths and their families intended to rehabilitate young offenders who may otherwise have been incarcerated.

The 19th Judicial Circuit received the $212,000 grant from the Illinois Department of Human Services which will help fund a program called RYSE, which stands for Redeploy Youth and Family Support using Evidence-based Practices.

It will be a comprehensive, community-based program that will establish a continuum of local sanctions and treatment alternatives for juvenile offenders, court officials said.

The program sprang from prior IDHS grants that identified areas in Lake County that are underserved for mental health, substance abuse, delinquency and other services.

Through the RYSE program, minors and their families will receive functional family therapy provided by licensed clinicians and will work with probation officers trained to work with families. The program will also pay transportation costs for attending therapy and other appointments, and staff training.

“We are grateful to have been chosen to receive this funding from the Illinois Department of Human Services,” said Judge Christen Bishop, who presides over the Restorative Justice Division, which includes juvenile count.

“This grant will undoubtedly have an immediate impact for the minors we serve along with their families, helping to eliminate barriers to accessing the treatment services that are needed to address their issues, in addition to providing further training for our staff, and tracking programmatic results,” Bishop said.

The Lake County sheriff’s office Special Investigations Group has released its final stats for 2021, and the law enforcement group reported the seizure of a record $5 million in drugs last year.

The SIG seizures included: Nearly 70 pounds of powder cocaine; more than 11 pounds of methamphetamine; over three pounds of heroin; nearly eight pounds of ketamine; more than five pounds of illegally trafficked cannabis and hundreds of grams of crack cocaine, ecstasy, and fentanyl.

In addition to drug interdiction, the SIG placed major emphasis on human trafficking last year, conducting investigations into people who lure unsuspecting victims into forced labor or sexual servitude. SIG also offers presentations to schools and community groups to keep local citizens aware of ongoing trends in drug use and the warning signs of addiction.

The SIG partners with numerous local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, and its activities are funded in part by a federal grant.

“I firmly believe our expanding of SIG over the past few years created a robust and proactive enforcement group, where we can focus on violence, drug trafficking, and human trafficking,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “This has undoubtedly saved lives from being lost to violence and drug overdose. In the years to come, we will continue expanding SIG and our other task force groups, which are all essential in reducing crime and helping the community.”

The sheriff’s office said it obtained warrants for the arrests of two Zion men in connection with a shooting earlier this month in Wadsworth.

The shooting occurred early on March 6 in the parking lot of a gas station in the 41400 block of North Green Bay Road. Police sad both men fired guns at an occupied vehicle. No one was struck by the gunfire, police said.

After investigation, police said they positively identified the men. On March 14, police obtained warrants for both for unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon and aggravated discharge. Taylor is also wanted for a charge of being an armed habitual criminal.

Both men are considered armed and extremely dangerous. Anyone who sees them is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (847) 377-4000, or leave a tip online at the Lake County CrimeStoppers website.

Police say the woman, who was hypothermic, apparently fell into the channel after arguing with her boyfriend, and was unable to free herself.

She called 911 for help, but dispatchers lost contact with her and she did not answer repeated calls. Officer Craig Sommerville and K9 Ryker responded, and the dog tracked the woman for almost a mile before locating her.

source: https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/lake-county-news-sun/opinion/ct-lns-law-and-order-st-0321-20220318-agjj6y5im5hqjijovxnthiug6i-story.html

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