But not everyone is concerned about the financial costs as much as they are the impact of committed crimes, even if they are seen as nonviolent by the court.

“That’s not going to change our position on these individuals who commit violent crimes or who will not follow the conditions of the court,” says Sangamon County State’s Attorney John Milhiser. “We will continue to ask for the Department of Corrections time for them when appropriate because the number one goal for this office is to make sure our community is safe, and if that means asking if these juveniles be sent to the Department of Juvenile Corrections, we will do so.”

There are now 27 counties participating in Redeploy programs, including Macon, Lee, Peoria, St. Clair, Christian and Marion.

The social services programs work as a team but many programs are a product of trial and error. Decatur’s Redeploy Illinois program connects youth to mental health counseling, anger management classes, and promotes life skills through hands-on programs, an effort to keep youth on a track to being productive members of society. Not every program is suc cessful, according to staff and volunteers.

“But being one of the four original pilot sites, I think a lot of the error is behind us and we have moved forward quite a bit finding what’s worked, and what hasn’t worked,” says Taylor.

One of the goals of the group is to give youth a positive environment so they don’t have to worry about being influenced in a negative way. Chriss Walters, a home interventionist with the Youth Advocate Program, has nine teens on her caseload and has contact with most of them daily or at least three times each week.

“The kids look to us to help keep them on track. They know that they have somebody in their corner,” says Walters.

Walters is always on the move, often picking up youth in the program between activities and reporting back to Toussaint continually throughout the day. Youth seem comfortable opening up to her and she tries to be someone they can count on.

“I always tell them, I look at it like the boxing scenario, that they’re the ones in the ring, you know, fighting the fight,” Walters says.

“Their community service is really not a punishment,” says Shelley. “It’s kind of like they’re restoring the harm that they have done ….”

Contact Holly Dillemuth at hdillemuth@illinoistimes.com.