Lawn mowing supervisor Mike McCoy, dressed in a bright orange vest, sets a potted tomato plant down on the steps of Rex’s home as three youth finish up working on her yard. “I’m just thrilled they can help me out like they do,” she says, repeatedly thanking them for their work.
The potted plant is a way to show appreciation to those who take part in Redeploy’s lawn mowing service. Director and coordinator of Decatur’s Redeploy Illinois program Thea Toussaint says the work done by these youth change the perspective of those they help, like Rex.
“Somebody might look them in the eye and acknowledge that they’re human, which sounds simple but doesn’t often happen to these kids,” says Toussaint.
Working with these kids is not easy. “It can be trying at times,” says McCoy, who worries about safety of teens who participate in the job program.
Redeploy started under the dome In 2003 the state legislature approved legislation to fund pilot programs for four Redeploy Illinois sites: Macon, St. Clair and Peoria counties and the Second Judicial District. The programs were expected to save the state $235.8 million over the first 10 years. Counties must pledge to reduce the number of youth who are sentenced to serve time in juvenile prison by 25 percent in the first two years. The 2011 Redeploy Illinois annual report shows a 53 percent drop in youth sentences from the Department of Corrections since 2004 because of the program. Last year the Macon County program received $321,650.
Redeploy Illinois funding has been cut for the past four years and staff at Macon County
Redeploy say there could a 5 to 10 percent cut in funding if the proposed 2012 budget is signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn. The budget approved by the General Assembly would cut Redeploy Illinois funding from $2.53 million to $2.48 million. Spokesperson for the Department of Human Services Januari Smith said in an email, “Continued expansion of Redeploy sites could be difficult, but we are looking for ways to manage the upcoming budget year(s).” She adds that funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) would help fill gaps created by the cuts.
While major juvenile justice reform remains a low priority for state government, the General Assembly passed legislation this year to set a standard for judges regarding how they sentence youth who have committed nonviolent crimes.
House Bill 83 would allow judges to exhaust all resources before sentencing youth to “hard time.” The legislation was pushed by the Illinois State Bar Association and the Juvenile Justice Initiative during this year’s spring legislative session. The bill passed both houses and awaits the governor’s approval to become law.
“We simply must reverse this trend,” writes Mark Hassakis, president of the ISBA, who has taken a keen interest in juvenile justice issues. “Expensive institutions are being used where there is little need for such investment and where it is arguably counterproductive.”
Will Sangamon follow? The capital city does not have a Redeploy Illinois site, which would have the potential to divert youth from prison. That could soon change now that Sangamon County has received a planning grant to help the county decide if it needs a better juvenile justice program.
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