Juvenile Justice Program

Juvenile Justice Program

YSB’s Juvenile Justice Program has two facets – Redeploy Illinois and Second Chance.

The team takes a multifaceted approach to helping participants to make positive changes. The young person works with a case manager for pragmatic needs such as tutoring, job applications, and life skills and a therapist to address mental health needs. In addition, members of their household participate in family therapy and the Step-up program that focuses on building respectful family relationships.

By working with both a case manager for pragmatic needs such as tutoring, job applications, and life skills and a therapist to address mental health needs the participants are given comprehensive support to make positive changes.

These evidence-based services are a cost effective and lasting alternative to youth incarceration.

In 2021 the annual cost per youth incarcerated with the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) was $187,765. The average cost per young person served in Redeploy Illinois was $8176, and that investment resulted in not only less recidivism, but overall better outcomes in the lives of young people and their families.

When the Redeploy Illinois Program was first implemented in 2012, the 13th Circuit averaged 27 commitments to IDJJ a year. Over time that has decreased sharply. In FY22, 9 youth were committed to IDJJ. From FY23 to FY 25 that number has ranged from 1 to 4 per year. That demonstrates an incredibly powerful impact on both the lives of youth and the bottom line for the State of Illinois.