Ten Core Principles of Probation: The First Juvenile Court: Chicago, Illinois: Be a Bridge to Opportunity and Connection to Community

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Melissa Donnelly has been a Cook County Juvenile Probation Officer for 21 years. She studied Elementary Education with a concentration in English at SUNY Oswego State University where she obtained her Bachelor’s Degree. During her time in college she worked for numerous community agencies specializing in direct care of children with disabilities as well as running after school programs for youth in elementary school. Prior to graduating college, she did an internship with Cook County Juvenile Probation that changed the trajectory of her career path. During her tenure with Cook County, Melissa has had diverse experience within the department. She did direct case management in both the South Chicago and Lawndale communities, front end work in the RUR Unit and Adjudication, and is currently a Supervisor of a team of officers in the Woodlawn Community. Melissa has been active with JDAI work in her department, and has presented out that work through the Annie E. Casey Foundation to other jurisdictions both in the country and internationally through site visits at Cook County. Melissa is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Harold and Rosemarie Marx Fund which services court involved youth in Cook County with cultural, education and recreational activities.

Leanne Engleman has been a Cook County Juvenile Probation Officer for nearly 22 years. She studied Psychology at Bradley University where she obtained a Bachelor’s degree. During her time in college, she also was an intern in the Peoria County Juvenile Probation Department. Following her graduation, she completed some post-graduate work in Criminal Justice through Western Illinois University, which afforded her the opportunity to intern with the Cook County Juvenile Probation Department. Not long after that internship, she was hired by the Department. During the first 12 years of her career, she worked as a Youth Care and Coordination Officer on the south and west sides of Chicago. She was also a Positive Youth Development Officer and a Pre-trial Officer before becoming a supervisor in March of 2020. She currently supervises a team of Officers that work the communities on the north side of the city. In addition to this, she also is a current member of the Cook County Juvenile Probation Communications Team, in which she gives presentations with other stakeholders to educate organizations and community partners on Juvenile Justice and Probation work.

Shelly Golden-Harris has been a Juvenile Probation Officer with Cook County for over 26 years. She holds a Master of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University in Educational Psychology/Guidance Counseling. Prior to working at Juvenile Court, she worked as a Supervising SASS Coordinator. There, she conducted emergency Mental Health Assessments and approved admissions for inpatient mental health treatment on Chicago’s far Southside to promised youth. Also, providing follow up Psychotherapy to those young people as needed. For the last 26 years of employment at Cook County Juvenile Court, she has worked as a Probation Officer in the Supervision Unit, Drug Treatment Unit, Weekend/Holiday Adjudication Unit and the 24 hour Continuous Court Operations Unit. Her current role at Juvenile Court is Supervisor with the Office of Career Services where she coordinates and provides training to the personnel of Cook County Juvenile Court. She has certifications in Mental Health First Aid (Instructor), Restorative Justice Circle Practitioner and Think Trauma Training (Instructor). She holds memberships in the Illinois Counseling Association, Illinois Juvenile Officers Association and the National Association for Blacks in Criminal Justice. Shelly also enjoys being a member of the African American Heritage Committee, a scholarship mentor for Project Lifeline, a member of the Youth Summit Committee, a member of the Communications Committee where she works alongside various community stakeholders educating them on Juvenile Justice 101 and a member of the Family Engaged Case Planning team. She continues to seek out enhancements to her professional toolkit to assist Probation Officers in their journey to empower youth with skills for overall healthy living in the community. Last but by no means least, Shelly is a wife and mother to a University enrolled son who loves math and gaming. She has also been a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated for 33 years. On the weekends she is either engaged in community service activities or crafting in her she shed.