Redeploy Illinois Program: The Impact on Juveniles, Families, and the Juvenile Justice System

• Author: Sesha Kethineni
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-6988.2012.01076.x
• Date: 01 March 2012
• Published date: 01 March 2012

Redeploy Illinois Program: The Impact on

Juveniles, Families, and the Juvenile

Justice System

By Sesha Kethineni

ABSTRACT

The Redeploy Illinois (RI) pilot program was created to give Illinois counties

financial support to provide community-based services for nonviolent youths who

would otherwise be committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice, which oversees

juvenile correctional institutions. The current project assesses: 1) the RI data in

McLean County; 2) the attitudes and perceptions of the youths in the program; 3) the

views of family members of RI youths; and 4) the views of the probation officers,

attorneys, and service providers. This research will provide a comprehensive under-

standing of the impact of the RI program on youths, families, victims, and the justice

system.jfcj_107639..52

INTRODUCTION

Studies have shown that juvenile and adult offenders sent to prison recidivate at a

higher rate than those given probation (Spohn & Holleran, 2002; Wooldredge, 1988).

Moreover, high levels of incarceration are often concentrated among residents of impov-

erished communities, with devastating effects on families and communities (Mauer &

Chesney-Lind, 2002). Advocates of incarceration theory argue that when incarcerations

increase, crime rates decrease (Zedlewski, 1987). This theory is derived from the behavior

of a small number of offenders who pose a threat to society and, therefore, need to be

isolated from the rest of society (Greenwood & Abrahamse, 1982). It should be noted,

however, that high-risk offenders represent only 15% of youths, yet they commit 75% of

all violent offenses (Huizinga, Loeber, Thornberry, & Cothern, 2000). Based on the belief

that the isolation of offenders reduces crime, punitive juvenile court policies and long-

Sesha Kethineni, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Criminal Justice Sciences at Illinois

State University.Her research has largely focused on juvenile justice, program evaluations, domestic violence,

and international human rights. She recently published an edited book titled, Comparative and International

Policing, Justice, and Transnational Crime. Correspondence: skethine@ilstu.edu

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Juvenile and Family Court Journal 63, no. 2 (Spring) 39

© 2012 National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges