The Sentinel: 09/23/25

Sending children through adult criminal system does improve anything

Illinois and national policies sending minors to adult court do not improve safety, according to a new report.

Photo: Emma Ou/Unsplash

by Judith Ruiz-Branch
Public News Service

CHICAGO - A new report highlighted how trying juveniles in adult court, in Illinois and across the country, does not make the public any safer and can even lead to more repeat offenses.

The report is part of a series by the Juvenile Justice Initiative of Illinois, which pointed to profound racial bias in prosecuting children in adult court.

Elizabeth Clarke, director of the initiative, said laws permitting the automatic transfer of kids to adult court, and others allowing kids over age 15 to be interrogated without legal counsel, all contribute to what she calls a "failed policy" of trying juveniles in adult court. Clarke noted most kids waive their Miranda Rights during custodial interrogation.

Every state in the U.S. and almost every nation has a separate court for children because not only are children's brains not fully developed but children are more capable of change

"Then unfortunately, based upon a statement, where they've never consulted with a lawyer, they can be charged in the adult court," Clarke explained. "They simply can't understand the ramifications of what they are signing."

Clark emphasized juvenile courts are more effective at reducing repeat offenses, addressing individual needs and holding children accountable. She argued the juvenile justice system has become incredibly complex, with multiple pathways for trying minors in adult court. Her organization advocates for simplifying the system.

Illinois established the first juvenile court more than 100 years ago but Clarke said in the 1990s, the state began implementing tougher policies to bypass juvenile court and automatically transfer certain minors to adult court. Clarke noted Illinois has been gradually dismantling these transfer provisions. The report mentioned a reform in 2015 which examined about 200 children’s cases in adult court and determined 90% should be in juvenile court.

"Every state in the U.S. and almost every nation has a separate court for children because not only are children's brains not fully developed but children are more capable of change," Clarke stressed.

The report recommended ending automatic transfer entirely, and requiring an attorney be present throughout interrogations in cases when a child could be transferred to adult court or receive an adult sentence. It also pinpointed the need for better data collection to understand where the practices are most common and where alternative resources might be more effective.

A bill which would have required legal representation for all Illinois children during interrogations failed in the Legislature last year.

Wang’s Champaign-Urbana mixed doubles squad earns trip to USTA Nationals

After sweeping four sectional matches, Champaign-Urbana mixed doubles squad will represent Illinois at the USTA Nationals in Florida.

by Clark Brooks

Sentinel Sports

INDIANAPOLIS - Kai Wang’s 18-and-over 7.0 mixed doubles tennis team is headed to Orlando after a commanding performance at the Midwest USTA sectional tournament in Indianapolis. The Champaign-Urbana squad swept through four matches over the weekend, dropping only five sets out of 26 played, to punch its ticket to the national championships set for Oct. 31–Nov. 2 at the USTA National Campus.

Mixed doubles competition pairs one male and one female player, combining their strengths on the court. The combined rating of both partners can’t exceed 7.0, and their individual numbers usually can’t differ by more than one point. Common pairings include a 3.5 player with another 3.5, or a 4.0 with a 3.0.

"Everyone is super excited about going to nationals," Wang said. A three-year veteran USTA team captain, he has led three other teams to sectional competition this year. In addition to his four team, a software developer by day, also plays on two other tennis teams. "It has always been challenging for a Champaign team to get out of sectionals. This year's sectional was very strange."

Wang said the top perrenial top team from Michigan did make it out of the state this year and the Wisconsin team was without some of their best female players due the timing of the sectional championship on the calendar.

Teams typically compete on three doubles courts, with the strongest pairing on Court 1 and the weakest on Court 3. Captains sometimes shift strategy, placing stronger teams on the No. 2 or No. 3 court. To win a team match, a squad must secure victories on at least two courts.

The victory is a glowing mark for the twin-city tennis community. Wang’s team is the first Champaign-Urbana squad to reach a national USTA event since 2014, when Dee Deschler guided a women’s 55-and-over team to Nationals. This year’s group qualified for sectionals after capturing the Illinois state crown on Sept. 13 with a hard-fought 2-1 decision.

Competing at the West Indy Racquet Club, the Champaign-Urbana squad opened with a 2-1 victory Friday against Wisconsin’s state champions, Team Putti. Saturday brought back-to-back sweeps as Wang’s side rolled past Indiana’s Team Inselberg and Michigan’s Team Armante, both by 3-0 margins. On Sunday, with a trip to Florida at stake, they sealed the deal in a 2-1 triumph over Ohio’s state titleholders, Team Ung.

Strong performances carried the weekend, including undefeated 3-0 runs by doubles pairs Chris Sarol and Kyo Nakanishi, and Minsun Kim and Angad Mehta. Their consistency proved to be a key factor in the team’s sectional success.

Wang said Nakanishi was a great addition to the team this year. The Japan native has won nine of her 12 matches since starting USTA competition this summer.

"Chris has really improved this year," he added. Sarol, a former Champaign Centennial standout, is one of the top 4.0-rated USTA players in the Mid-South Illinois region. Having played 36 matches this year, he secured victories in 31 of them. "They are really good together."

Wang highlighted Mehta and Kim as his top doubles pairing.

"Angad and M.K. are our strongest team," he said. "Angad is one of the strongest 3.5 players in our area. M.K. will probably get bumped up [to the next USTA level] next year."

Mehta, an assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Illinois, said he was proud of the team’s accomplishment and grateful for the opportunity to be part of this season’s journey.

"I can’t stop thinking about this - our little team from rural Illinois, based in the middle of cornfields, becomes a state champion, then goes on to beat every other state champion at sectionals, and is now on our way to nationals," he said. Thanking his teammates, he added, "What an incredible story this is. To assemble a group like this is quite incredible."

Mehta said he is looking forward to competing on the nation’s biggest stage against teams and players from across the country.

"It should be really cool."

The roster of the advancing Champaign-Urbana team includes: Kym Man, Angad Mehta, Su A Lee, Kai Wang, Kyo Nakanishi, Jooyen Kim, Paul Cheung, Chris Sarol, Lisa Ainsworth, Ben Lee, Minsun Kim, Sung Min Moon, Teri Scaggs, Noel Castro, Patrick Hammie, and Karolyn Smith.

Box Scores:

Team Wang vs Putti, Wisconsin
FINAL: 2-1
#1 - Prathap Palaniswamy/Megan Prahl def Jooyen Kim/Kai Wang - 6-3, 6-2
#2 - Kyo Nakanishi/Chris Sarol def Abtin Molavi/Molly Moritz - 6-4, 6-1
#3 - Paul Cheung/Minsun Kim def Amberlee Baugus/Hung Mahn Nguyen - 6-3, 6-3

Team Wang vs Inselberg, Indiana
FINAL: 3-0
#1 - Sarol/Nakanishi def Shelby Ackerman/Alex Aukerman - 6-3, 4-6, 1-0
#2 - Angad Mehta/Minsun Kim def Ashley DeMello/Jacob Lewis - 6-2, 6-1
#3 - Noel Castro/Kym Man def Mallory Inselberg/Damon Grothe - 6-1, 6-1

Team Wang vs Amante, Michigan
FINAL: 3-0
#1 - Mehta/Kim def Yvonne Boucher/Patrick van Tuinen - 6-1, 6-3
#2 - Castro/Man def Gary Arp/Pam Kloet - 6-0, 6-2
#3 - Teri Scaggs/Sung Min Moon def Joe Morris/Nicole Morris - 6-2, 6-1

Team Wang vs Ung, Ohio
FINAL: 2-1
#1 - Denise Hwang/Phong Nguyen def Castro/Man - 6-3, 3-6, 1-0
#2 - Sarol/Nakanishi def Eileen Connell/Craig Nine - 6-1, 6-2
#3 - Mehta/Kim def David Blond/Marybeth Esposito - 6-2, 6-3