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Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice
County juvenile detention centers do NOT fall under the jurisdiction of the State of Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice. LEARN MORE
Monarch Youth Center celebrates inaugural high school graduation
Meet Bella-Monarch Youth Center's therapy dog
Annual Reports
Monarch Youth Center announces name of high school as Nelson Mandela Academy
On October 1, 2026 Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) School District #428 announced Nelson Mandela Academy as the newly chosen name of the alternative high school located inside Monarch Youth Center in Lincoln.
The school naming ceremony was held in the gymnasium of Monarch Youth Center and included special guests Yaacov Delaney, director of Illinois’ Justice, Equity, and Opportunity (JEO) Initiative, State Senator Sally Turner (R-Lincoln), and Anne Dawdy, representing the office of State Representative Will Hauter (R-Morton). David Green, school district #428 board of education member, also attended.
Students of Nelson Mandela Academy spent months choosing a name for the school. Working alongside their teachers, students researched and delivered presentations on seven individuals who they felt embodied characteristics of leadership, determination, and perseverance: Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks, Abraham Lincoln, Malala Yousafzai, Malcolm X, George Washington Carver, and Langston Hughes. Educators, youth, school district officials, and administrators at Monarch Youth Center voted that Nelson Mandela would be the best namesake for the school.
Run Club for Incarcerated Youth Celebrates First 5K Run/Walk
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On Saturday, April 25, nine youth in the custody of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) had their first experience participating in a 5K run/walk. The race took place on the secure campus of IDJJ’s PEACE Center in St. Charles.
Professors Zach Wahl-Alexander and Jennifer Jacobs from Northern Illinois University’s (NIU) Department of Kinesiology had the idea for the 5K after starting a run club for incarcerated youth at the PEACE Center earlier this year. The run club is a new addition to Project FLEX, NIU’s extensive programming partnership with IDJJ. Project Flex uses sports programming to make a positive impact on the lives of incarcerated youth.
For more information, download the press release on our news & media page.
IDJJ Values
Safety
We are all responsible for working to create a physically and
emotionally safe environment for everyone.
Integrity
We strive to do what is right in every situation; we act with fairness
and professionalism, & we are accountable for our actions.
Change
We support everyone’s capacity for growth and believe in
opportunities for individual and systemic transformation.
Dignity
We believe that all people have intrinsic value and should be
treated with kindness and respect, recognizing differences in
culture, background, and trauma experiences.
Teamwork
We only succeed as a team and communication is the key to our success.
Community Partners
The Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice is grateful to the many wonderful community partner organizations and individuals that provide educational, recreational and therapeutic services and opportunities to our youth. The below organizations provide services such as art therapy, restorative justice programs, literacy training, mentoring, tutoring, animal therapy, violence prevention, vocational training, musical theater, peer mentoring, substance abuse prevention, oral communication skills, recreational and athletic activities, higher education opportunities, and more. Click on the logos to learn more about our community partners.
*Partner organizations are still being updated. Email dominique.newman@illinois.gov if your organization is missing from this list.
