NCJ Number
134829
Journal
Insight Into Corrections Dated: (January 1992) Pages: 2-5
Date Published
1992
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Employees of the Adult Division of the Illinois Department of Corrections have begun a volunteer effort to work with the local Boys' and Girls' Clubs that serve children living in public housing projects.
Abstract
The effort was undertaken to help disadvantaged children and hopefully, to direct some potential youthful offenders away from criminal careers. A reduced prison population means large tax savings, as housing a juvenile offender costs approximately $30,000 per year, and many of these delinquents move on to incarceration in the Adult Division. This volunteer program attempts to counter some of the negative family and environmental factors influencing these youngsters. Correctional staff are also active in coaching several housing authority youth sports teams. In addition, inmate work crews have completed more than a dozen maintenance and repair projects for the Boys' and Girls' Club, and have helped in staging events.