In 2003, a work group from the membership of the Juvenile Action Committee of the Fourth Judicial Circuit began meeting with the idea of forming a circuit-wide Juvenile Justice Council. Staff of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority met with the workgroup to assess the needs and potential benefits of having a circuitwide Juvenile Justice Council. It was determined to form a circuit-wide Juvenile Justice Council pursuant to the Illinois Juvenile Court Act (705 ILCS 405/6-12). It was determined that the circuit would be best served if a circuitwide council was formed as opposed to individual county councils. Intergovernmental agreements were entered into by each of the nine counties providing for the creation of a circuitwide Juvenile Justice Council. The initial meeting of the Juvenile Justice Council was held December 10, 2003, in Effingham, Illinois. At the initial meeting, council members were selected, bylaws adopted and officers elected. On May 9, 2007, the Fourth Judicial Circuit Juvenile Justice Council was incorporated as an Illinois not-for-profit corporation.