Juvenile Justice Mentoring Initiative (JJMI)

Click to register for the July informational meeting or to ask a question about the program.

The Juvenile Justice Mentoring Initiative engages the experience, dedication, and talents of motivated lawyers for the benefit of juveniles on probation. The Initiative, which commenced in 2012, resulted from the collaborative efforts of The Chicago Bar Association, the Cook County Bar Association, the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, and Lawyers Lend-a-Hand to Youth, as well as the Juvenile Justice Division and the Juvenile Probation Department of the Circuit Court of Cook County.

The Program

Our goal for the Initiative is to create mentoring relationships for young men between the ages of 13 and 18, who are serving probationary sentences for non-violent offenses. Mentors are asked to make a one-year commitment to the program, which includes an orientation session and on-going training designed to prepare our mentors for group and individual meetings with their mentees. Although the time commitment is modest, the rewards are significant for the mentors and mentees alike.

Who Can Be a Mentor?

Any male attorney or law student willing to dedicate themselves to a year-long relationship with a court-involved minor can be a mentor. Studies and research demonstrate that a stable mentoring relationship of one year or more is necessary for youth to reap benefits. Mentors are required to complete the application process, attend the orientation and follow-up training sessions, and to 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 MCLE professionalism credit based upon the full-day orientation program and quarterly booster training sessions.

To volunteer: 
For those who are interested in applying to the program, please submit your applications at the following link: https://forms.gle/84sgggWBriNwquQi6
Please submit your applications prior to the 9/18/21 orientation from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For questions, please contact:
David Schierl 
Juvenile Justice Mentoring Initiative
Mentor Liaison
630-908-0825
probation3@ameritech.net