Ogle County State's Attorney Roe honored as champion for change in juvenile justice reform

Ogle County State's Attorney John B. "Ben" Roe is being honored by the MacArthur Foundation-supported Models for Change juvenile justice systems reform initiative as a Champion for Change in juvenile justice reform for his determination to improve the lives of court-involved kids, their families, and communities. Roe will be recognized at the 4th annual Models for Change national conference in Washington, D.C., this week for his leadership of the Ogle County Juvenile Justice Council, which has forged a strong local partnership dedicated to community safety and positive youth outcomes.  Models for Change is the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation's $140 million national initiative to reform juvenile justice across the country. Sixteen states are now involved - four working on a range of state and local reforms, and 12 as part of three action networks focusing on disproportionate minority contact, mental health, and juvenile indigent defense. "Ben Roe has transcended the traditional role of the prosecutor in dealing with juvenile crime," said Shay Bilchik, Director of the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform at Georgetown University Public Policy Institute. "He understands that the prosecutor has a responsibility to serve as more than just the gatekeeper to the juvenile court system, determining which juveniles should be charged with crimes or diverted from the system." "He has promoted the notion, both through his words and actions, that a prosecutor must serve as a community leader working both to prevent and respond appropriately to juvenile offending," Bilchik continued. "In this regard, he has become an instrumental partner in the MfC initiative, conveying the message to other prosecutors of the importance of supporting this work and the principles embodied therein." Roe, who is serving his second term as state's attorney of Ogle County in northwestern Illinois, was instrumental in the creation of an agreement that ensures juvenile offenders undergo a professional assessment in the early stage of their contact with the justice system. Information received from the assessment of each juvenile helps determine whether the youth could benefit from a variety of services, including mental health therapy, treatment for drug addictions and family counseling. As Chair of the Ogle County Juvenile Justice Council, Roe was key to reaching an unprecedented agreement with the judiciary, probation department and public defenders.  Signed earlier this year, the agreement stipulates that information gained from the early assessment will not be shared with Ogle County prosecutors - a condition that allows the county to provide counseling without violating any of a juvenile's rights and encourages the juveniles to talk frankly without fear of self-incrimination.  The counseling is conducted by a state-licensed therapist on the staff of the Ogle County Probation Department, and the therapist must adhere to the privacy protections of the Illinois Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities Confidentiality Act. Also during his tenure, the council worked with law enforcement to create a police contact form to gather uniform information for every police contact with a juvenile; a diverse case processing team has used the information to evaluate all cases fairly; and the county has begun to divert a majority of juveniles into Balanced and Restorative Justice programs that hold the youth accountable and keep the community safe.  As a result, declining probation caseloads have allowed probation officers to devote more time high-risk offenders. Recognizing the important role that education and employment play in keeping youth out of trouble, the council also developed alternatives to school suspensions and guided eligible youth through the expungement process. "We appreciate the recognition given to Ogle County, and it is due to the dedication of many police and probation officers, our judiciary, schools, clergy and parents throughout the county," Roe said.  "All of us understand that the future safety and prosperity of our communities depend on our young people maturing into responsible adults.  A secure future requires us to do much more than just lock our doors and hope for the best.  Getting smart on crime and becoming involved today will guarantee the best future for all of us." Prior to becoming state's attorney of Ogle County in 2004, Roe served for three years as an assistant state's attorney in Carroll County, where his responsibilities included juvenile prosecution.  He also has experience as a probation officer in Ogle County where he was assigned to Focus House, a detention home in Rochelle. Earlier this year, he was appointed to a new 15-member Illinois Juvenile Jurisdiction Task Force, created to study whether 17-year-olds charged with felony offenses should be tried as juveniles or as adults. Roe, 34, is a graduate of Northern Illinois University's College of Law and has a bachelor's degree in Government from Centre College in Danville, Kentucky. About Illinois Models for Change Illinois Models for Change is focusing on bringing about change in three areas:  (1) right-sizing the juvenile court's jurisdiction, (2) expanding community-based alternatives to the confinement and formal processing of juveniles, and (3) addressing disproportionate minority contact with the juvenile justice system.  The work in all these areas is being carried out statewide, and five local demonstration projects are working with Models for Change to expand their array of alternatives to confinement. About Models for Change The Models for Change initiative is an effort to create successful and replicable models of juvenile justice system reform through targeted investments in key states. With long-term funding and support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Models for Change seeks to accelerate progress toward a more rational, fair, effective, and developmentally appropriate juvenile justice system.  www.modelsforchange.net