Juveniles who participated in a Cook County court program that defers prosecution while offering social services were charged with new criminal offenses at lower rates than their peers, according to an independent study released Thursday.

The findings of the evaluation, conducted by research group Chapin Hall, were embraced by stakeholders during a time when city, county and state officials are grappling with crime and violence, even as it has lessened in recent years.

The program was launched as a pilot in 2020 by the Cook County state’s attorney’s office, Office of the Chief Judge and other partners during the COVID-19 pandemic at a time when the court system was looking for ways to address turmoil and delays. It seeks to treat the root causes of crime for a population that the system

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