NCJ Number
234540
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 39 Issue: 2 Dated: March/April 2011 Pages: 183-191
Date Published
April 2011
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study evaluates the Redeploy Illinois (RI) program in two pilot sites, a program that provided financial incentives to select counties for developing community-based alternatives to incarceration.
Abstract
Study results show that the counties that participated in the pilot test of the RI program were able to reduce their levels of juvenile commitment to State facilities. Peoria County exceeded its reduction benchmark for all but 2 years, and St. Clair County exceeded its reduction benchmark for all full calendar years subsequent to implementation. An approximate 25-percent reduction from prior levels of juvenile confinement was obtained during the first full year of the RI program at the two pilot sites. The participating counties received State funds for developing community-based services for youth diverted from incarceration in State facilities. In return for these funds, the counties were expected to reduce their commitments to State facilities by at least 25 percent. As part of the counties' participation, they were required to provide evidence-based treatment programming for youth and increased services linkages. The impetus for the development of RI stemmed from the lack of community-based alternatives for juvenile offenders at the county level. This gap in services was interrelated with counties' dependence on the State for providing residential facilities for both the evaluation of juveniles in preadjudication stages and as a placement option. The agency data were analyzed by using qualitative methods to examine the effects of the RI. 8 tables, 3 notes, and 27 references