Oct 8, 2009 8:04 pm US/Central
Gun-Toting Teen At Taste Sent To New Court Program
15-Year-Old Found With Loaded Shotgun Went Through Revamped Juvenile Court Program
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
The Taste of Chicago attracts families, small children and tourists.
But in the massive crowd this year, there was a teenager with a loaded shotgun.
Why did it happen? CBS 2 Investigator Pam Zekman wanted some answers. So, she followed the case through juvenile court.
She learned about a court program that some hope will help stop the epidemic of violence involving kids with guns.
There was a huge police presence this year at Taste of Chicago. Cops searched for weapons -- and found them. Five adults were arrested carrying guns.
A sixth arrest was the 15-year-old son of Sheila Whitehall.
Police caught him with a loaded shotgun that had been hidden in a backpack.
Why was he carrying the shotgun? Whitehall said her son had fought with other "guys" the week before.
"I guess he was protecting himself," she said.
"Do you understand why people are so concerned about guns at Taste of Chicago?" Zekman asked her.
"Yeah, because there's a million people there -- babies, kids, everything," Whitehall said. "It ain't supposed to be no violence."
But she points out her son knew that violence had erupted the year before. One person was killed and several wounded.
The teenager's case was assigned to a special gun court created last year by the presiding judge of juvenile court, Judge Curtis Heaston. He is concerned about the epidemic of violence involving kids with guns.
Among other things, the judge stopped a practice called "stepping down," in which some kids caught with guns were quickly released from custody.
"If you step a kid down before the police officer can fill out his report, the kid is back on the street," Heaston said. "And then a week later the kid is picked up with another gun."
Now, minors caught with guns are sent to a temporary detention center, he said.
Whitehall's son pleaded guilty after spending about six weeks in custody.
He was released on five years' probation with some tough conditions, which include: 50 hours community service; mandatory school attendance; a drug evaluation and possible treatment and a strict court order to stay away from drugs, gangs and guns.
The last requirement is a real challenge for the kids and probation officers and therapists who treat them.
"Many of our clients cannot travel from block to block without having to carry something to protect themselves from a rival gang," said Denise Pavich, a Cook County supervisory probation officer.
Since January 2008, 125 have been killed with firearms.
"If we could save one, I think that's good," Heaston said. "But I would certainly like to save more."
The judge says there are some recent court statistics that indicate the court program might be making an impact. For the last two months, for the first time, there have been no kids in gun court who have had a prior arrest for guns.
Whitehall said she's glad her son got a second chance.
"My son's still alive, the gun's gone, and he's learned a lesson," she said.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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