Children sent to the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center
A Cook County judge is bending the rules as he sends two 12-year-olds to be locked up in the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center.
There's a local ordinance in place that bans boys 12 and younger from being sent to that center. It was unanimously passed by the Cook County Board of Commissioners about a month ago.
Judge Michael Toomin says that according to court records, the boys were arrested on suspicion of armed robbery and were released and put on electronic monitoring.
Both boys have gun charges on their records and as soon as they were charged they ran away from home.
Judge Toomin says these minors represent a clear and present threat to society. He goes on to say the county's ordinance offers little aid or guidance on what to do and where to put offenders who are minors.
Both of the boys' public defenders say they would appeal the ruling, but until that happens they have to remain at the detention center.
They also filed an emergency petition arguing Judge Toomin's decision violated the county law.
In that petition, lawyers said the ordinance provides a strong protection for a minor's liberty than the Juvenile Court Act.
