Adult Redeploy Illinois Awards Will Expand Community-Based Alternatives to Incarceration
CHICAGO–(ENEWSPF)–December 30, 2013. Governor Pat Quinn yesterday announced that 31 Illinois counties will receive a total of nearly $7 million to divert non-violent offenders from prison into more effective community-based services. The investments are through Adult Redeploy Illinois, a proven, successful program that is part of Governor Quinn’s commitment to reducing crime and improving public safety. Under Governor Quinn’s leadership, Illinois’ recidivism rate has dropped from 55 percent to 47 percent.
“Community-based programs are more cost-effective and produce better results in rehabilitating non-violent offenders,” Governor Quinn said. “Everyone benefits when we can help offenders turn their lives around and become productive members of society without filling up our prisons.”
Adult Redeploy Illinois, administered by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA), provides financial incentives to counties or judicial circuits to create or expand diversion programs that employ evidence-based practices and encourage the successful local supervision of eligible offenders. The results are better outcomes for offenders which improves public safety at a lower cost to taxpayers. The awards were determined by the Adult Redeploy Illinois Oversight Board (ARIOB).
“Adult Redeploy Illinois was built on evidence-based practices that give non-violent offenders the tools and services they need to turn away from crime while saving the state millions in incarceration costs,” ICJIA Executive Director Jack Cutrone said. “We are extremely thankful to the Governor for the opportunity to continue and expand this outstanding program.”
Adult Redeploy Illinois will award 18 grants covering 34 counties. These include:
2nd Judicial Circuit Court Services, $302,207 (Crawford, Edwards, Franklin, Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Richland, Wabash, Wayne and White Counties)
Effingham County Probation Department, $168,282 (Also serving Christian County)
9th Judicial Circuit Court, $436,680 (Fulton, Hancock, Henderson, Knox, McDonough and Warren Counties)
13th Judicial Circuit Probation and Court Services, $281,263 (LaSalle County)
17th Judicial Circuit Court, $150,000 (Boone County)
Cook County Justice Advisory Council, $1,541,461
18th Judicial Circuit Court, $317,514 (DuPage County)
Jersey County Probation Office, $123,766
Kane County Adult Court Services, $300,000
Lake County Circuit Court, $215,835
Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office, $318,911
Madison County Probation Department, $213,718
McLean County Court Services, $168,488
Peoria County Probation Department, $300,286
Sangamon County Circuit Court, $224,724
St. Clair County Probation Department, $388,663
Winnebago County Circuit Court, $646,775
Since 2011, Adult Redeploy Illinois sites have diverted more than 1,000 non-violent offenders. In 2012, these sites spent an average of $4,400 per program participant, compared to the annual per capita incarceration cost of $21,500 in state fiscal year 2011. This represents more than $17 million in potential corrections savings.
“Adult Redeploy Illinois has proven to be successful in helping non-violent justice involved individuals get back on the right path,” ARIOB Co-Chair Michelle R.B. Saddler, secretary of the Illinois Department of Human Services said. “This expansion will allow more participants to get treatment for mental health and substance abuse problems along with the other services that help participants avoid recidivism.”
Locally-designed ARI programs offer offenders a chance to avoid prison by committing to intensive supervision and services, including cognitive behavioral and trauma-informed therapy, and problem-solving drug, mental health and veterans’ courts. Awarded jurisdictions must agree to reduce by 25 percent the number of commitments to the Illinois Department of Corrections from a defined target population of prison-bound, non-violent offenders. To date, all fully implemented Adult Redeploy Illinois sites have met or exceeded their diversion goals.
“The Illinois Department of Corrections believes very strongly in working with at-risk, nonviolent offenders in their own communities,” ARIOB Co-Chair S.A. Godinez, director of the Illinois Department of Corrections said. “As opposed to immediate incarceration, this is a sound and cost-effective approach to ensuring public safety.”
ICJIA is dedicated to improving the administration of criminal justice with work in the areas of grants administration, research and analysis, policy and planning, and information systems and technology. For more information on ICJIA, visit http://icjia.state.il.us/. For more information on Adult Redeploy Illinois, go to http://icjia.state.il.us/public/redeploy/.
Source: illinois.gov
