ModelsforChange
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation launched an initiative to help states become models of juvenile justice reform. "Models for Change: Systems Reform in Juvenile Justice"is an effort to create successful and replicable models of juvenile justice system reform through targeted investments in four key states: Illinois, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Washington. The initiative seeks to accelerate progress towards a more rational, fair, effective, and developmentally appropriate juvenile justice system. The Juvenile Justice Initiative is proud to participate in the Models for Change initiative.
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ESSENTIAL FACTS ABOUT HOUSE BILL 83 [Public Act 97-0362]
House Bill 83 [Public Act 97-0362] which took effect on January 1, 2012 is intended to help judges obtain the necessary information to make informed decisions regarding dispositions for youth. Without essential information about youth and possible alternatives to incarceration, judges have no choice but to over-rely on incarceration as their only option for youth who need more structure then normal probation will provide. Most juvenile courts are already doing this right; House Bill 83 basically codifies the current best practices of judges.
Research shows that incarceration is the least effective disposition for juveniles. Illinois currently funds incarceration at more than twice the rate of community interventions— even though half of the incarcerated youth who are released return to prison within three years. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s longitudinal study Pathways to Desistance proves that incarceration actually increases repeat offending by low level youth, and fails to prevent repeat offending by violent youth. Community based alternatives work better to prevent all youth from reoffending. House Bill 83 helps courts gain the information they need about community services and alternatives, to identify appropriate community alternatives for more youth, thereby decreasing reoffending.
House Bill 83 requires that courts be provided with the following information before making a finding that secure confinement is necessary:
- Detailed information on the youth's background, family, and strengths & challenges, including:
- Youth’s age
- Youth’s criminal background
- Review of results of any assessments of the minor, including child centered assessments such as the CANS
- Youth’s educational background (i.e. special ed., school discipline, grade level…)
- Physical, mental and emotional health of the youth
- Available family support
- Detailed information on services that were offered and specific information on why they didn't work & what could be changed to help them work.
- Physical, mental, or emotional health services provided and whether the youth was compliant with services.
- Community based services provided, and whether the minor was compliant with the services.
- When services fail the court should be provided with a comprehensive explanation of what happened (problems with transportation, support, etc) and what changes might allow the services to be successful.
- A listing of specific services within the Department of Juvenile Justice that will meet the individualized needs of the minor.
- Detailed information on services available in the community.
- Judges can utilize the Illinois Statewide Provider Database (illinoisoutcomes.dcfs.illinois.gov), which recommends available and appropriate services based on the youth’s demographic, clinical, and geographic characteristics.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Elizabeth Clarke Oct. 27, 2011 847-864-1567
Juvenile Justice Initiative Responds to Legislative Panel’s Advice to Stop Consolidation of State’s Expensive Youth Prison System
CHICAGO -- Elizabeth Clarke, President of the Juvenile Justice Initiative, released the following statement in response to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability’s advisory opinion and vote opposing Gov. Quinn’s decision to close the state’s youth prison in Murphysboro.
Even though the state’s costly youth prison system has more than 500 empty beds and the state’s unbalanced budget is bright red, this Commission’s advice is to spend more money the state doesn’t have on a wasteful, inefficient system.
Gov. Quinn should reject this terrible advice; not buckle under pressure to do the wrong thing; proceed with closing the youth prison in Murphysboro; and commit to additional consolidation in the coming fiscal year.
This recommendation is irresponsible and ignores the fact that the state’s juvenile prison population has dropped dramatically from 1,603 in FY 05 to 1,113 in FY 11. In the last five years, the annual cost of incarcerating youth has jumped from $71,000 to more than $92,000 per youth. If this Commission has its way, those costs will go higher and higher. The cost at Murphysboro – where about two-thirds of the prison is empty -- is more than $142,000 per youth.
Murphysboro is just the first of the eight prisons that should be closed. The state’s eight youth prisons could be consolidated into a 4-prison system and still house all of the juveniles in prison today. The lowered overhead would produce millions in cost savings that could help rehabilitate youth in their communities at much lower cost and with greater success.
Ironically and sadly, the Commission’s recommendation was made just days after a national poll showed that 89 percent of the public strongly favors rehabilitation and treatment approaches, such as counseling, education, treatment, restitution, and community service. The public recognizes that imprisoning youth far away from their families doesn’t work. It doesn’t reduce future offending. It doesn’t make our communities safer. It doesn’t put youth on a path toward becoming contributing members of our society. Unfortunately, the Commission ignored these facts and went in the opposite direction.
One positive of today’s vote was a recognition by some opposing legislators that some consolidation is necessary and expressions of an interest in additional study. We—and they-- know that even our current population is too large; only the violent and dangerous youth should be incarcerated.
The Juvenile Justice Initiative applauds those Commission members who stood up for fiscal common sense and for sound investment in rehabilitation of our youth. We thank Sen. Jeff Schoenberg, who is Commission co-chair; Sen. Matt Murphy, Sen. Donne Trotter and Rep. Elaine Nekritz for their votes for the resolution to close Murphysboro Youth Center.
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Governor Quinn signed in to law legislation that makes Redeploy Illinois a permanent state program and provides an opportunity to reach juveniles statewide. Public Act 95-1050 removes the "pilot" status and permits the state to offer the program beyond the pilot counties. Click here for a copy of the press release from Chicago Metropolis 2020 & JJI. Click here for a copy of the press release from the Governor. Click here for a copy of the Chicago Tribune editorial supporting Redeploy Illinois.