Judge Donna Honzel and Taryn Marko Selected for Winnebago County Juvenile Justice Council Leadership Roles Chief Judge John S. Lowry announced that the Winnebago County Juvenile Justice Council will be led by two members of the 17th Judicial Circuit Court. Associate Judge Donna R. Honzel will serve as the Council Chairperson. Judge Honzel currently presides over juvenile delinquency cases in Winnebago County. Taryn Marko, Deputy Director of Court Services Juvenile Division, will serve as the Council Vice-Chairperson. The selection of both leaders for expected two year terms was made during a Council meeting on January 27, 2022. The Winnebago County Juvenile Justice Council was officially established on December 14, 2021, pursuant to statutory provisions set forth in the Illinois Juvenile Court Act. The mission of the Council is to facilitate communication and awareness of community resources to decrease juvenile justice involvement for at-risk youth and families by establishing and maintaining partnerships across systems. More so, the counsel seeks to serve as a collaborative resource to align effective services for the prevention, intervention, rehabilitation, and reintegration of juveniles in order to create a positive change for youth, families and the community. Regarding her selection, Judge Honzel commented, “I’m humbled by the trust placed in me by the voting members of the Juvenile Justice Council. I believe suppressing the current juvenile crime situation requires a collaborative effort from every facet of the community. The Council’s overarching goal is to spearhead that collaboration to benefit not only the juveniles of this area but also the community as a whole. I’m excited by the possibilities!” “It is an honor to be a part of the Juvenile Justice Council,” said Taryn Marko. “I am looking forward to beginning this process with Judge Honzel and the Council members.” PDF of Press Release
