|
|
| IDOC Director Announces Prison Reforms |
| By enewspf.com |
| Published: 09/23/2009 |
|
Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) Director Michael P. Randle today announced a comprehensive crime reduction package that will continue Governor Pat Quinn’s prison reform efforts. The Governor is providing an additional $4 million to IDOC, which will oversee the implementation of these smarter, tougher prevention and enforcement measures. “The Governor’s support has provided the state with the tools it needs to embark on these far reaching criminal justice reform initiatives,” Director Randle said. “This will lead to the development of new tools throughout the state’s entire justice system that will ensure all law enforcement can better target resources, more effectively reduce crime and strengthen communities. At the same time, it will help us to manage safer, more efficient prisons.” “Director Randle’s primary focus is protecting the public while also modernizing and improving the state’s correctional system,” Governor Quinn said. “These new approaches will help accomplish that important goal.” The focus on reform is the result of the state’s rising prison population and its drain on limited resources. IDOC attributes the increase, from 18,000 in fiscal year 1986 to nearly 46,000 in fiscal year 2009, to higher incarceration rates of low-level, non-violent drug offenders. Experts question whether the state’s investment of $3 billion in taxpayer dollars to build, operate and maintain new prison space was effective in reducing crime and cite research studies that indicate those dollars may have been more successfully invested in drug treatment and other community-based alternatives. One aspect of the reform package, the Illinois Crime Reduction Act of 2009, will reduce the number of offenders sent to IDOC by creating a new program to help divert adults from the state prison system and focus on more effective crime reduction methods. Two million dollars will be used to encourage counties to use community-based programs for those non-violent offenders who would have otherwise received a short-term prison sentence. Read More. |
MARKETPLACE search vendors | advanced search
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
|
Comments:
No comments have been posted for this article.
Login to let us know what you think