PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The way the state of Illinois decides which juvenile is held at a detention center isn’t working, nor does it protect the public.
That’s the message from Peoria Police Chief Eric Echevarria, who voiced his frustration with the state’s policies on Monday, less than a day after three teens were taken into custody for their role in a South Peoria shooting.
"This system must be examined, reformed, and rebuilt. It is not protecting our communities. It is not helping our youth, and it is absolutely not working," he said.
A 22-year-old man was shot in the head in the 2300 block of West Antoinette Street. Three youths were found in a nearby house with several guns inside, one of which was stolen, the chief said.
None of the youths, he said, lived there.
"What makes this even more troubling is that these juveniles are not first-time offenders," he said. "Between the three of them, they have been arrested 27 times over the last four to five years."
The chief said their arrests in the past have included:
• Multiple gun-related charges
• Burglary to a motor vehicle
• Criminal trespass
• Domestic battery
• Aggravated battery to a police officer
• Vehicular hijacking
• Resisting and obstructing police
Yet, they haven’t been held in custody at the county’s Juvenile Detention Center because they didn’t meet the criteria under state guidelines.
And less than 30 days later, that teen, who was arrested for weapons counts and resisting police, was "involved in another case connected to illegal guns and violence," Echevarria said.
Initially, the JDC did not accept them into its custody, the chief said. It was only after prosecutors stepped in that they were held.
"Without their intervention, these offenders would have been released again," the chief said.
This story will be updated.
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October 13, 2025 at 06:53PM
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