NCJ Number
244768
Date Published
January 2010
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This report presents a summary of findings from site visits to Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice facilities conducted in 2009.
Abstract
This report presents a summary of findings from site visits conducted in 2009 by staff members of the John Howard Association to youth correctional facilities operated by the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ). The information gathered during the visits included the condition of each facility's physical plant, meetings with key administrators and staff members, discussions with residents and staff, and a review of each facility's summary documentation. The findings from the visits are presented in two parts: system-wide issues and issues specific to Individual Youth Centers (IYC). The system-wide issues deal with staffing and staff/youth ratios, education, aftercare, food service/dietary, IDJJ as a place versus IDJJ as a process, physical plant, mental health issues with high risk youth, classification, unions, and shared resources. The facilities examined in this report are IYC Chicago - a minimum security facility for boys; IYC Harrisburg - a reception and classification center for boys from the southern part of the State; IYC Joliet - IDJJ's primary facility for serious male offenders; IYC Kewanee - IDJJ's special treatment facility for boys with serious mental health needs and boys requiring sex offender treatment; IYC Murphysboro - IDJJ's male boot camp for boys classified as low-medium security risk; IYC Pere Marquette - a small substance abuse facility for girls; IYC St. Charles - IDJJ's reception and classification center for boys from the northern part of the State; and IYC Warrenville - the reception and classification center for all girls that enter IDJJ.