Activist: Everyone should aid
in search for missing children
by Kathy Chaney Jahmeshia was found Nov. 30 in and the non-notification, the police
DEFENDER STAFF WRITER an alley one block from her home in have increased the frequency of issu-
the Englewood community. The ing missing persons alerts. Since
An anti-violence activist said the medical examiner’s office said the Conner’s death, at least 25 alerts
police’s increased frequency of issu- girl had been strangled to death. were sent to the media. About one-
ing missing persons alerts is not Police officials also indicated that third of those reported missing have
enough to help bring missing chil- she had been raped. She was last seen been reunited with their families.
dren home. The media, schools and on Nov. 16 after walking to a bus As of Nov. 30, some 7,970 missing
The coffin holding the remains of 12-year-old Jahmeisha Conner
churches must also take an active stop headed home from her aunt’s persons reports were filed for chil-
rests near the altar at New Covenant Baptist Church, where her
role. home, about a half-mile away. dren ages 16 and under. From
funeral services were held Saturday. Defender/Worsom Robinson
Activist Andrew Holmes, who also She was reported missing the next January to November 2008, 9,583
helps families search for their miss- day. The National Center for Missing reports were filed for the same age (29th) said: “We already post missing those who pick up their children,” the
ing loved ones, said the media and Exploited Children initially group, according to police persons flyers in our ward office, and activist said.
shouldn’t have to wait for direction labeled the girl a runaway, but later spokesman Roderick Drew. will expand promotion (of) missing Chicago Public Schools spokes-
from the police department before a retracted the designation. Conner “did not die in vain,” Rush persons information from links on woman Monique Bond said missing
photo of a missing child is reported The fifth grader was laid to rest said in the eulogy. our aldermanic Internet site to the juvenile alerts are sent to the school
on the news. Saturday during funeral services held While the aldermen’s offices do Chicago Police Department’s Web district and immediately sent to the
Holmes helped the family of slain at New Covenant Baptist Church on not receive the alerts from the police, site. Further, we will continue to respective schools the students
12-year-old Jahmeshia Conner. The the South Side. U.S. Rep. Bobby if a flyer is available it will be posted, make missing persons reports part of attend.
girl’s family contacted local media Rush, D-1st, delivered the eulogy. said two aldermen. our regular community meetings, to “Our safety office notifies the
outlets about Conner, who had been A $20,000 reward has been offered Ald. Toni Preckwinkle (4th) said assist in this effort.” schools and each school will take the
reported missing before her dead in Jahmeshia Conner’s case, yet, no occasionally someone would bring a School involvement in a case is a necessary action. Usually, a school’s
body was found in a South Side alley, leads have been generated, said missing persons flyer to her office. “missing link,” Holmes said. first notification of a missing child
but her case received no attention, he Police Supt. Jody Weis. “We’ll put them out on the litera- “If the schools (that) these missing comes from the parents, not the
said. A technical glitch may have pre- ture table and post it. We do that all children attend get more involved, police,” said Bond.
“A child’s picture shown on the vented her missing persons alert the time,” said Preckwinkle. it’ll be better all the way around. Holmes added, “We need to cover
television for about 30 seconds could from being sent to the media, police The chairman of the City When they get a flyer they should all the bases so we can get these chil-
help a great deal,” Holmes told the said. Council’s Police and Fire make sure they’re issued to the stu- dren away from so much drama they
Defender. Since the uproar over her death Committee, Ald. Isaac Carothers dents and to the parents, especially may be encountering in the streets.”
Military veterans benefiting from new criminal court
by Wendell Hutson rent charge is a non-violent felony The same day, another veteran was home,” said Monique Stallsworth, coordinate our efforts with the state
DEFENDER STAFF WRITER they are eligible to have their case tested for drug use and his results 51. “I am here because I got caught and federal Veteran Departments to
heard in veteran’s court,” Kammerer came back positive. with drugs on me. I was selling them get vets the services they need and
Rather than send them to prison, explained. “They have the choice of This was his second time in one to get some money but I was not are entitled to,” Kammerer said.
veterans charged with non-violent pleading guilty and accepting proba- week testing positive for cocaine. using it. I could have received two to “And just so taxpayers know, this
felonies in Cook County, such as tion or they can plead innocent and The judge ordered him to undergo five years in prison but was given a court is not an additional cost to them
drug possession or theft, have an have their day in court, where they 120 days of drug treatment at Cook second chance if I complete my pro- because even if the court did not exist
opportunity to receive probation if could still receive probation.” County Jail where he will stay unless bation and stay out of trouble.” the vets would still have to go to
they choose to appear in Veterans However, the only guarantee a vet- he posts bail, which was set at One veteran who appeared in court court somewhere.
Court. eran has to receive probation is to $150,000. Friday said he had no place to live. In January a second Veterans
In February the Cook County plead guilty rather than go to trial. If Eggert said he likes Veterans Court Within two hours caseworkers had Court is expected to open at the Cook
Felony Veterans Court Program was not, they run the risk of being sen- because the people there are con- found a place for him to stay. County Criminal Courts Building in
implemented as a way to increase tenced to prison depending on other cerned about the well being of veter- Featherfist, a South Side homeless west suburban Maywood. The
veterans’ understanding of services factors, such as their background, ans. organization, agreed to take him in at unique court is modeled after
available to them, such as job readi- according to the program. “These people are not here just for their newest building, which opened Veterans Courts in Buffalo, N.Y. and
ness, housing, medical and more. David Eggert, 56, appeared Friday a paycheck. They are here because Dec. 7 exclusively for veterans. San Diego, according to William
To date 35 veterans have appeared in the newly formed court before they care,” he told the Defender. “I Veterans Court is held 9:30 a.m. Schmutz, director/community liaison
in courtroom 204 at the Cook County Judge John Kirby to explain why he am glad such courts exist because the the second and fourth Friday of each for the Chicago Commission on
Criminal Courts Building, 2650 S. missed an appointment with his pro- other courts do nothing but lock you month. In addition to probation, vet- Human Relations.
California Ave. And of those veter- bation officer. up and throw away the key.” erans can also receive social services, “This court came about after we
ans, 70 percent were Black, said “I was sick, Your Honor. I had According to Kammerer, the such as housing, education and legal saw the courts in New York and
Mark Kammerer, director of treat- pneumonia,” Eggert said. “I have my majority of the veterans who appear assistance, job training, mental and California doing so well with its
ment programs for the Cook County paperwork to prove it, Your Honor.” in Veterans Court are men but some substance abuse counseling. vets,” Schmutz said.
State’s Attorney’s office. After providing proof that he had are women. “Believe it or not there are some “We want to help our veterans not
“It does not matter if a veteran has been treated by a doctor, Kirby con- “I served in the Persian Gulf War veterans who do not even know what lock them up after they serve their
past convictions. As long as their cur- tinued his case until January. and was wounded so I was sent services they’re eligible for, so we country.”
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Chicago Defender • ChicagoDefender.com • December 16-22, 2009
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