Detention Analysis

Redeploy Illinois 2011 Annual Report - Detention Analysis

While the goal of Redeploy Illinois is to reduce the number of system-involved youth committed to IDJJ correctional facilities, the program is not intended to result in an increased use of local, secure detention placements. Although preferable to incarceration, secure detention is not an effective community-based intervention strategy for these youth.

The data presented in the figures that follow show that Redeploy Illinois has not resulted in an unintended, increased reliance on local secure detention centers, as some have feared. In 2011, the average length of stay for juveniles at detention centers statewide was 19 days, while Redeploy sites experienced average lengths of stay of just 12 days. Further, statewide detention centers experienced a 60% increase in average daily population at detention facilities, from the original baseline years (2001-2003), while Redeploy sites averaged a 14% decrease.

The primary intent of the detention analysis presented here is to assess the possibility that detention is being used intentionally in lieu of IDJJ commitments in an effort to ensure a site's compliance with the required 25% reduction. Figure 8 presents data on the number of detention admissions statewide in the past 10 calendar years.

FIGURE 8:  Detention Admissions - Statewide

Figure 8: Detention Admissions - Statewide

Redeploy Site CY 2001 CY 2002 CY 2003 CY 2004 CY 2005 CY 2006 CY 2007 CY 2008 CY 2009 CY 2010 CY 2011
Statewide 11,029 10,899 10,154 9,795 9,808 13,590 15,745 15,244 13,843 13,642 12,742

Figures 9 and 10, below, show the number of detention admissions, by site, for each year that Redeploy has been implemented.

FIGURE 9:  Detention Admissions - 2005 Sites

Figure 9: Detention Admissions - 2005 Sites

Redeploy Site CY 2001 CY 2002 CY 2003 CY 2004 CY 2005 CY 2006 CY 2007 CY 2008 CY 2009 CY 2010 CY 2011
Macon 338 228 195 169 175 192 167 200 221 179 159
Peoria 726 804 821 876 849 806 769 739 664 608 450
St. Clair 890 815 747 702 623 787 604 573 431 560 361
Second Circuit 259 252 212 299 335 332 312 304 294 344 328

FIGURE 10:  Detention Admissions - 2009 Sites

Figure 10: Detention Admissions - 2009 Sites

Redeploy Site CY 2005 CY 2006 CY 2007 CY 2008 CY 2009 CY 2010 CY 2011
Lee 22 8 10 12 11 11 8
Madison 393 395 402 341 333 354 367
McLean 186 219 205 215 194 189 138
Fourth Circuit 182 191 179 126 109 134 157

These figures demonstrate that, in the time since Redeploy's inception in 2005, annual detention admissions statewide have increased by 30%, while Redeploy sites experienced an average decrease of 29%. In addition, at a time when all detention numbers were increasing statewide (new admissions, average length of stay and average daily population); those at Redeploy sites remained relatively stable or decreased in all of those categories. (Appendix 2)