Illinois Gov. Quinn makes pilot Redeploy Illinois juvenile justice reform permanent program
May 4, 2009, Jim Bray
Redeploy Illinois, a pilot program to divert youths from incarceration in state facilities, will become a permanent state program and will have the ability to expand to counties throughout the state.
On April 7, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation removing the pilot status from the program, which was created by legislation in 2003 and has been promoted by Models for Change.
Redeploy Illinois offers counties money to treat youths in their home communities at far less expense and with greater success than sending them to state facilities. In exchange, the participating counties agree to reduce the number of youths sent to the state by 25 percent or face a fine.
“Redeploy Illinois is a great example of a fair and rational juvenile justice policy,” said Betsy Clarke, President of the Juvenile Justice Initiative. “By reaching young people in their home communities with social services and oversight, we give them a better chance of succeeding later in life. Redeploy Illinois holds them accountable for their crimes, but it also can make it less likely they will commit future crimes.
During the first three years of Redeploy Illinois, the four pilot sites sent approximately 400 fewer youths to the Department of Juvenile Justice, a reduction of 51 percent in these sites. That reduction is the equivalent of $18.7 million in “cost avoidance” to the state, according to the Department of Human Services.
On average, state government spends more than $70,000 on each youth sent to a facility operated by the Department of Juvenile Justice. The cost of providing services locally to youth in Redeploy Illinois ranges from $2,500 to $9,500 per youth.
Redeploy Illinois began with four pilot sites and recently was expanded to five more locations. The enacted legislation will make the services provided by Redeploy Illinois accessible to less populated counties with fewer delinquent youth than counties in the pilot sites.
More information about the legislation and a copy of the 2008 Redeploy Illinois annual report can be found at JJI’s website (http://www.jjustice.org/).
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