Juvenile Justice
New Program Keeps Youth Out of Court and Lowers Recidivism
October 26, 2025 | NWI
The Care Coordination Program for Deferred Prosecution was launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce a backlog of juvenile court cases in Cook County, Illinois. Instead of moving youth through the court system, the program connects participants to community-based services tailored to their individual goals and needs. Chapin Hall’s evaluation shows that the program helps youth engage in services, avoid prosecution, and experience lower rates of recidivism compared to similar peers who are not offered the program.