Court-Appointed Administrator to Reform Illinois Juvenile Center
CHICAGO — An independent administrator assumed the helm at the troubled Cook County Temporary Detention Center in August and immediately warned there would be no quick solution to the problems there.
Earl Dunlap, a nationally recognized expert in juvenile justice, was granted sweeping powers when appointed to the post by U.S. District Judge John Nordberg.
Dunlap is tasked with bringing the center into compliance with several existing agreements and plans previously approved by the federal courts, which assumed jurisdiction over the facility following a lawsuit filed by the ACLU in 1999.
In recent years, allegations of chronic mismanagement, abuse, violence, understaffing, substandard mental-health services and unsanitary conditions have dogged the center.
Nordberg imposed no term limit on Dunlap, but it is expected to take at least two years to implement the necessary reforms, officials say. The court order grants Dunlap broad and unprecedented powers over several areas, including personnel decisions, finances and budgetary matters, officials say.
The Cook County Board of Supervisors agreed to hand over control of the center to the courts earlier this year. State-level legislation approving the move is awaiting the governor’s signature.
Dunlap will operate under the title of transitional administrator, officials say. He is chief executive officer of the National Partnership for Juvenile Services, a nonprofit advocacy and policy group composed of four nationally recognized juvenile justice and education organizations — the National Association of Juvenile Correctional Agencies, the National Juvenile Detention Association, the Juvenile Justice Trainers Association and the Council for Educators of At-Risk and Delinquent Youth.
An attorney for one of the center’s employee unions filed an objection to the court order’s provisions granting Dunlap broad power over personnel decisions. Nordberg refused to entertain the motion, which could have delayed or derailed Dunlap’s appointment. Nordberg says a motion to intervene could be filed at a later date.
