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Chris Ruys (312) 337-7746, chris@chrisruys.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, March 2010

Judge Michael McHaney Completes Training to Present Teen Safety Program

Hon. Michael McHaney, an associate circuit judge in the Fourth Judicial Circuit [which includes the counties of Clay, Christian, Clinton, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Marion, Montgomery, and Shelby], has completed a training program offered by the Illinois Judges Association (IJA) called “7 Reasons to Leave the Party,” and is available to present the free program to schools.

The 50-minute, award-winning presentation – which originated in the 8th Judicial Circuit and was expanded and developed for statewide presentation by 8th Judicial Circuit Judge Mark A. Drummond – provides 7th through 12th grade students with information about the consequences of poor choices. The talk, which is peppered with true stories of teens who made wrong decisions, is designed to drive home this message: Encourage your friends to avoid wrong behavior, and you can prevent them from having a criminal record or losing their driver’s license. You may even save a life.

To date, 105 judges statewide have voluntarily completed the training, and the program has been presented to nearly 50,000 teens throughout the state.

“By the time a teen hits the courthouse, it is too late,” Judge Drummond has said. “This is our attempt as judges at preventative law.” “Most teens want to do the right thing and the program gives those teens 7 reasons to encourage their peers to do the same. Each teen is given a “contract” to go over with his or her parent or guardian where the teen pledges not to drink alcohol, not to drive with someone who has been drinking and, furthermore, to promise that, if they are at a place where they feel uncomfortable or unsafe, they will call the parent or guardian for a ride home – no questions asked.”

The first five percent of teens at each school who deliver to the designated school official the “contract” with their signature and that of a parent or guardian will receive a key chain flashlight, courtesy of
the IJA.

For further information or to schedule a presentation, contact the Illinois Judges Association at

321 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, IL 60604, or call (312) 431-1283 or email the
association at info@ija.org.

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