Chicagoland Youth Deflection Initiative Launch

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 28, 2025

CHICAGO –TASC’s (Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities) Center for Health and Justice, along with the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS), Illinois State Police (ISP), Chicago Department of Family Support Services (DFSS), and many treatment and community-based organizations, launched the Chicagoland Youth Deflection Initiative (CYDI) today. ​ CYDI is aimed at identifying at-risk youth and offering community-based resources to break the cycle that may lead youth into future criminal justice system involvement.

“The launch of the Chicagoland Youth Deflection Initiative is coming just in time for our younger citizens as Summer 2025 is about to get underway. ​ Through the introduction of deflection, our Chicagoland community will be better positioned to get ahead of one of the major challenges our youth face; the damage and lifelong negative consequences that can go with drug use, misuse, and addiction,” said TASC’s Center for Health and Justice Executive Director Jac Charlier. ​ “Deflection creates a ‘bridge’ between police and drug treatment, so every encounter becomes a possible opportunity to deflect a youth to treatment and services without waiting for a crisis or arrest to happen before needing to act. ​ I want to give credit and thanks to the partnerships you see here today between ISP, DHS, ICJIA, TASC-CHJ, the City of Chicago with its network of community providers, and the youth themselves who actively participated over many months to create and put in place CYDI, which when underway will be the largest youth deflection effort in the country.”

When a law enforcement officer or other first responder encounters a youth that could benefit from deflection services, they will facilitate contact between the individual and a Deflection Specialist. ​ That Deflection Specialist will then connect the youth and their family/guardian with community-based services. ​ Deflection services include social, educational, medical, substance use, and mental health treatment.

“The Chicago Department of Family and Support Services is excited about the opportunity to partner with the State and ISP to offer the necessary services to youth and their families,” Chicago Department of Family and Support Services, Youth Services Division, Prevention and Intervention Director said Lisa Hampton. ​ “We hope that families will take advantage of these services, allowing us to continue preventing young people from further entering the justice system.” 

Deflection provides law enforcement with more options when encountering troubled youth. ​

“Our officers, whether responding to a call for service or enforcing the law, often see youth starting to go down the wrong path,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. ​ “Connecting youth with a Deflection Specialist who can provide resources and a chance to go down a better path, break the cycle, and avoid future involvement with the criminal justice system, can also help increase the safety of our communities and our officers.”

Deflection does not replace filing juvenile charges when necessary. ​ If criminal charges are warranted, they will still be pursued. ​ However, not all juvenile encounters lead to arrests or charges. ​ In cases where deflection eligibility criteria are met, deflection offers an alternative pathway, allowing a juvenile to be referred for supportive interventions. ​ Even if juvenile charges are filed, a deflection referral may still be completed.

Deflection is also aimed at steering youth experiencing substance use disorder and/or mental health issues away from jail or repeat visits to emergency departments, and towards treatment and support services.

“There are many pathways to recovery, and any opportunity we can find to help someone begin that journey is a positive development,” said Stephanie Frank, Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention & Recovery, Deputy Director of Planning, Performance, Assessment, and Federal Projects. ​ “We are excited to be a part of this initiative, which is another example of the work being done to engage more people with the services they need to positively change their lives.” 

The ultimate goal is to reduce the number of times law enforcement are involved with youth and reduce juveniles entering the judicial system. ​ Deflection provides youth a more positive experience with law enforcement and better engagement in their school and community.

More information about defection can be found at on the TASC Center for Health and Justice website.

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