Report: Prison diversion program saving Illinois millions - WREX.com – Rockford’s News Leader

Report: Prison diversion program saving Illinois millions

A report on Illinois' prison diversion program shows $40 million in savings in its seven years of existence.

Redeploy Illinois gives counties financial support for community programs for young offenders as an alternative to spending time in a juvenile detention center. The program is an initiative from the Illinois Department of Human Services.

"Redeploy Illinois' success is proof that community-based services for juvenile offenders are not only the best tools we have to truly help rehabilitate delinquent youth, but they are also more cost effective," said IDHS Secretary Michelle R.B. Saddler. "In diverting our young people from the path of imprisonment, we save them – and our state – from the social, emotional and financial costs of incarceration."

Since 2005, the report shows the program has cut the number of juveniles committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice in half. On average, about 178 young offenders in the 29 participating Illinois counties spent time in a juvenile center each year. That average is down from 356 before the program started.

Click here to view the full annual report.