Lake County State's Attorney's Explorers Program Returns

From Lake County State's Attorney's Office:

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is bringing back their popular Explorer program to help students gain hands-on experience with careers in criminal justice.

The Lake County Law and Government Explorer’s is a program sponsored by the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office and being offered in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America. The eight-month program provides training experience for people aged 14-to-21-years-old who are looking to one day obtain a career in criminal justice.

Most of the students enrolled in the program are high school aged, but several college-aged students are also involved, officials said.

“The Explorer program grants kids an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in careers in the criminal justice system,” said Assistant Lake County States Attorney Fred Day, who serves as advisor of the program. “Rather than read about the career they are pursuing, they get to engage with professionals in the criminal justice system and perform some of the actual duties these jobs entail.”

The program is meant to give kids an up-close and sometimes hands-on experience of what it is like to work in many professions within the criminal justice and legal system. The adult advisors include prosecutors, defense attorneys, police officers, probation officers and judges.

This is the second time the state’s attorney’s office offered the program. Previous programs included a tour of the Lake County Jail, students ran a mock trial, then were involved in a career night with professionals throughout the criminal justice system. Those professional helped kids plan for applications to college, law school, medical school and social work careers.

The program encourages discussion concerning the issues of the day, as well as gives students experience within the legal system.

“One of the goals of the program is to prepare kids to take the steps necessary now to position themselves to succeed in their later careers,” Day said. “Students involved get advice on how to prepare their careers now so they will not be caught flat footed when competing in these careers later.”

Day said the group has reached out to numerous high school civics and social studies departments in Lake County to recruit participants.

Adults will provide programing that outlines and describes the realistic day-to-day experience of working in these different careers.

The program runs from late September through the end of the school year, and parents are always welcome to attend with their kids.

“The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is extremely proud to offer this program to students looking to get a leg up in their careers in the justice system,” said Lake County State’s Attorney Michael Nerheim. “We look forward to seeing how this group evolves throughout the year, then hopefully expand the program in 2020.”

The group meets every other Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in the Jury Commission Room at the Lake county courthouse in Waukegan. For more information or to sign up for the program, people are urged to contact Day at (847) 377-7819.

This press release was produced by the Lake County State's Attorney's Office. The views expressed here are the author's own.