Juvenile Justice Mentoring Initiative informational session set for July 21

The Juvenile Justice Mentoring Initiative aims to create mentoring relationships for young men, aged 13 to 18, who are serving probationary sentences for non-violent offenses. Male attorneys or law students willing to commit to a year-long relationship with a court-involved minor can serve as a mentor.

An informational Zoom meeting about the Initiative has been set for July 21 at noon. Registrations are required and can be made through the CBA website.

The Juvenile Justice Mentoring Initiative began in 2012. It resulted from the collaborative efforts of the Chicago Bar Association, the Cook County Bar Association, the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, the Lawyers Lend-a-Hand to Youth, and the Juvenile Justice Division and the Juvenile Probation Department of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

The one-year commitment is required, according to program administrators, because studies and research demonstrate that a stable mentoring relationship of one year or more is necessary for youth to reap benefits.

Mentors will be required to complete an application process, attend the orientation and follow-up training sessions, and commit to a minimum of weekly communication with their mentee and a minimum of two face-to-face contacts per month. One of the contacts would be as a part of a group outing planned and coordinated by the Initiative, often with input from the mentors and mentees.

Participating attorneys who complete the program will receive six hours of MCLE professionalism credit based upon the full-day orientation program and quarterly booster training sessions.