Welcome to Part 1 of our midterm 2018 primary series! Over the next 20 days, we will be highlighting how the outcome of the 2018 primary elections could impact youth justice in our state and our community. Part 2 thru 9 will be posted on social media. Follow along as we “march” toward the primary…
Please note, as a 501(c)3 organization, the Moran Center for Youth Advocacy will not be endorsing any specific candidates. The intent of our “At the Polls” series is to educate and inform the community about important issues that impact our mission and our clients.
On March 20th, Illinois voters will have the chance to shape the direction Illinois takes by voting in the 2018 Illinois Primary Election. The primary election is important as voters will have the chance to decide who will be on the ballot on November 6 and potentially who their new Governor and Attorney General will be. Overall, this election will decide which path Illinois will follow for the next four years, and thus its importance should not be understated.
This election will not just shape the direction of Illinois, but also the work of the Moran Center, and, most importantly, the lives of our clients. The next Governor and Attorney General will be in charge of and develop numerous policies and programs regarding youth justice reform, mental health services treatment, and changes in the criminal justice system. New policies aimed at easing or toughening these measures can pave the way toward achieving our mission, or create barriers to equity and justice that hinder our work and put our clients at risk of disconnecting from our community.
Specifically, there are several issues that Moran Center supporters and youth advocates should pay attention to. Examining the degree to which candidates support programs such as Redeploy Illinois or TeenReach demonstrates how far these candidates are willing to go in changing the youth justice system. This is especially important as the Moran Center supports raising the age of juvenile court to 21, a 24/7 review of decisions to incarcerate children within a detention center, and assurance that every child has a skilled and trained attorney with them before and throughout the detention proceeding. In addition, the Moran center urges you to consider how far each candidate will go in strengthening treatment capacity in the mental health sector through Medicaid rate reform and supporting investment in critical prevention and intervention programs as children age out of childhood prevention programs. By supporting these changes and investment, candidates demonstrate their public commitment to working with the Moran Center in pursuing. Your vote can make a difference!
Eligible voters must complete the online voter registration by March 4th in order to participate in the March 20th primary. Keep in mind that 17 year olds who will turn 18 before the date of the General Election are eligible to register to vote. The youth vote matters so make sure all of the young adults in your life are registered and motivated to vote.
Specifically, there are several issues that Moran Center supporters and youth advocates should pay attention to. Examining the degree to which candidates support programs such as Redeploy Illinois or TeenReach demonstrates how far these candidates are willing to go in changing the youth justice system. This is especially important as the Moran Center supports raising the age of juvenile court to 21, a 24/7 review of decisions to incarcerate children within a detention center, and assurance that every child has a skilled and trained attorney with them before and throughout the detention proceeding. In addition, the Moran center urges you to consider how far each candidate will go in strengthening treatment capacity in the mental health sector through Medicaid rate reform and supporting investment in critical prevention and intervention programs as children age out of childhood prevention programs. By supporting these changes and investment, candidates demonstrate their public commitment to working with the Moran Center in pursuing. Your vote can make a difference! 
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