Lake County's Expanded Juvenile Complex is 'Better, More Dignified' for Defendants

LAKE COUNTY, IL - Added courtrooms, meeting areas and office space are some of the many upgrades now accessible in the county's recently expanded juvenile complex.

Reps from the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit recently celebrated the expansion of the Robert W. Depke Juvenile Complex Center, 24647 N. Highway 21 in Vernon Hills, via a July 17 ribbon cutting. The date marked the birthday of Audrey Nixon, the longest-serving member of the Lake County Board who died in April.

The center's improvements will make the justice process "better and more dignified" for juvenile defendants, Lake County Board Chairman Aaron Lawlor said.

"Previously, our defendants would have to conference with their attorneys often in corners in the lobby," he said. "Our staff was on top of each other in insufficient office space and we didn't have enough courtrooms on this campus."

Lawlor emphasized that the new buildings will help the county meet its "statutory responsibilities" while also helping those moving through the justice system.

Watch the video below for a look at the newly upgraded center.