Redeploy Illinois 2011 Annual Report - Cost Benefit Analysis
The Redeploy Illinois program saves the State far more than the $2.4 million annual appropriation. In the six years since the program's inception, participating counties sent 854 juveniles to state prisons. This is a steep decline from the projected 1,737 that were likely to have been sent to prison, based on the previous three-year trend; it represents a 51% reduction in commitments. Given the current $86,861 annual cost to keep a juvenile in a State prison, the savings to state taxpayers are considerable.
- In the past six years since the program's inception, Redeploy Illinois sites have reduced commitments to DJJ by an average of 51%. By avoiding commitments to a projected 886 youth in Redeploy counties, the State has averted more than $40 million in incarceration costs.
In Fiscal Year 2005, when the program began, the per capita cost for a 12-month juvenile commitment was $70,827. The average length of stay for a delinquency commitment was 8.8 months ($51,940) and the average length of stay for a court evaluation commitment was 3.5 months ($20,658). Since 2005, the cost of commitment has increased yearly to $86,861 in 2012.1 However; the most current cost data published by the Department of Juvenile Justice reflects 2005 expenses. The cost analysis below reflects the 2005 cost information and average lengths of stay by commitment type. Therefore, the analysis below represents a conservative estimate of savings.
Analysis Methodology
The methodology for calculating the cost avoidance of Redeploy involved several steps:
- Compare the baseline eligible commitment number to the observed number of eligible commitments for a given year. The baseline is the average number of eligible commitments reported for a site during the years preceding the award of a Redeploy grant. There is one exception, St. Clair County, for two baselines reused. Because St. Clair County experienced a 150% increase in eligible commitments from 2001 to 2004, the Redeploy Illinois Oversight Board (RIOB allowed St. Clair County to use the single preceding year (2004) as its initial baseline (86 commitments). Beginning in the 3rd year of implementation, the RIOB adjusted the baseline to be the average number of eligible commitments for 2003-2005 (74 commitments). The difference between the baseline and eligible commitments for a given year are considered to be youth who have been diverted from commitment or Redeployed.
- Determine among Redeployed youth the number that would have been committed for evaluation and full commitment. According to IDJJ (2005), nine percent of new admissions are for a court evaluation. Therefore, the factors of .09 and .91 were applied to the number of Redeployed youth.
- The costs associated with commitment were then applied to the number of redeployed youth. The average length of stay for a delinquency commitment was 8.8 months ($51,940) and the average length of stay for a court evaluation commitment was 3.5 months ($20,658).
2nd Judicial Circuit
Since January 2005, the 2nd Judicial Circuit has redeployed 123 youth. The cost avoidance of diverting these youth from a court evaluation or full-commitment was over $6 million. Table 8, below, presents the performance of the 2nd Circuit.
TABLE 8: Cost Avoidance resulting from Redeploy Illinois, by Year - 2nd Judicial Circuit
| Program Period |
Eligible
Commitments
|
Percent
Reduction from
Baseline
|
Number
Redeployed
|
Cost Avoidance |
|
Year One
1/1/05 - 12/31/05
|
22 |
45% |
18 |
$ 884,243 |
|
Year Two
1/1/06 - 12/31/06
|
30 |
25% |
10 |
$ 491,246 |
|
Year Three
1/1/07 - 12/31/07
|
20 |
50% |
20 |
$ 976,236 |
|
Year Four
1/1/08 - 12/31/08
|
15 |
63% |
25 |
$1,228,116 |
|
Year Five
1/1/09 - 12/31/09
|
12 |
70% |
28 |
$1,375,489 |
|
Year Six
1/1/10 - 12/31/10
|
18 |
55% |
22 |
$1,080,742 |
| 6 Year Figures |
117 Youth
Incarcerated
|
51% |
123 Fewer Youth
Incarcerated
|
$6,036,072 |
Note: Baseline number of eligible commitments = 40
Macon County
Since January 2005, Macon County has redeployed 155 youth. The cost avoidance of diverting these youth from a court evaluation or full-commitment was $7.6 million. Table 9 presents the performance of Macon County.
TABLE 9: Cost Avoidance Resulting from Redeploy Illinois, by Year - Macon County
| Program Period |
Eligible
Commitments
|
Percent
Reduction from
Baseline
|
Number
Redeployed
|
Cost Avoidance |
|
Year One
1/1/05 - 12/31/05
|
30 |
41% |
21 |
$1,031,617 |
|
Year Two
1/1/06 - 12/31/06
|
12 |
76% |
39 |
$1,915,861 |
|
Year Three
1/1/07 - 12/31/07
|
18 |
65% |
33 |
$1,620,174 |
|
Year Four
1/1/08 - 12/31/08
|
23 |
55% |
28 |
$1,375,489 |
|
Year Five
1/1/09 - 12/31/09
|
32 |
37% |
19 |
$ 933,367 |
|
Year Six
1/1/10 - 12/31/10
|
36 |
29% |
15 |
$ 736,869 |
| 6 Year Figures |
151 Youth
Incarcerated
|
51% |
155 Fewer Youth
Incarcerated
|
$7,613,377 |
Note: Baseline number of eligible commitments = 51
Peoria County
Since July 2005, Peoria County has redeployed 165 youth. The cost avoidance of diverting these youth from a court evaluation or full commitment was over 8 million. Table 10 presents the performance of Peoria County.
TABLE 10: Cost Avoidance Resulting from Redeploy Illinois, by Year - Peoria County
| Program Period |
Eligible
Commitments
|
Percent
Reduction from
Baseline
|
Number
Redeployed
|
Cost Avoidance |
|
Year One
1/1/05 - 12/31/05
|
48 |
39% |
30 |
$1,473,739 |
|
Year Two
1/1/06 - 12/31/06
|
49 |
37% |
29 |
$1,412,414 |
|
Year Three
1/1/07 - 12/31/07
|
49 |
37% |
29 |
$1,412,414 |
|
Year Four
1/1/08 - 12/31/08
|
60 |
23% |
18 |
$ 884,243 |
|
Year Five
1/1/09 - 12/31/09
|
42 |
46% |
36 |
$1,768,486 |
|
Year Six
1/1/10 - 12/31/10
|
55 |
30% |
23 |
$1,129,866 |
| 6 Year Figures |
303 Youth
Incarcerated
|
35% |
165 Fewer Youth
Incarcerated
|
$8,081,162 |
Note: Baseline number of eligible commitments = 78
St. Clair County
Since July 2005, St. Clair County redeployed 342 youth. The cost avoidance of diverting these youth from a court evaluation or full commitment was $13.6 million. Table 11 presents the performance of St. Clair County.
TABLE 11: Cost Avoidance Resulting from Redeploy Illinois, by Year - St. Clair County
| Program Period |
Eligible
Commitments
|
Percent
Reduction from
Baseline
|
Number
Redeployed
|
Cost Avoidance |
|
Year One
1/1/05 - 12/31/05
|
62 |
28% |
24 |
$1,178,991 |
|
Year Two
1/1/06 - 12/31/06
|
20 |
77% |
66 |
$3,240,348 |
|
Year Three
1/1/07 - 12/31/07
|
11 |
85% |
63 |
$3,094,851 |
|
Year Four
1/1/08 - 12/31/08
|
10 |
86% |
64 |
$3,143,975 |
|
Year Five
1/1/09 - 12/31/09
|
13 |
82% |
61 |
$2,996,601 |
|
Year Six
1/1/10 - 12/31/10
|
10 |
86% |
64 |
$3,143,975 |
| 6 Year Figures |
126 Youth
Incarcerated
|
73% |
342 Fewer Youth
Incarcerated
|
$13,654,766 |
Note: Baseline for years one and two = 86 and for year three and beyond = 74
Lee County
Since January 2009, Lee County has redeployed 20 youth. The cost avoidance of diverting these youth from a court evaluation or full-commitment was $982,492. Table 12, below, presents the performance of Lee County.
TABLE 12: Cost Avoidance Resulting from Redeploy Illinois, by Year - Lee County
| Program Period |
Eligible
Commitments
|
Percent
Reduction from
Baseline
|
Number
Redeployed
|
Cost Avoidance |
|
Year One
1/1/05 - 12/31/05
|
1 |
91% |
10 |
$491,246 |
|
Year Two
1/1/06 - 12/31/06
|
1 |
91% |
10 |
$491,246 |
| 2 Year Figures |
2 Youth
Incarcerated
|
91% |
20 Fewer Youth
Incarcerated
|
$982,492 |
Note: Baseline number of eligible commitments = 11
McLean County
Since January 2009, McLean County has redeployed 25 youth. The cost avoidance of diverting these youth from a court evaluation or full-commitment was $1.2 million. Table 13, below, presents the performance of McLean County.
TABLE 13: Cost Avoidance Resulting from Redeploy Illinois, by Year - McLean County
| Program Period |
Eligible
Commitments
|
Percent
Reduction from
Baseline
|
Number
Redeployed
|
Cost Avoidance |
|
Year One
1/1/05 - 12/31/05
|
10 |
57% |
13 |
$ 638,620 |
|
Year Two
1/1/06 - 12/31/06
|
11 |
52% |
12 |
$ 589,495 |
| 2 Year Figures |
21 Youth
Incarcerated
|
54% |
25 Fewer Youth
Incarcerated
|
$1,228,115 |
Note: Baseline number of eligible commitments = 23
Madison County
Since January 2009, Madison County has redeployed 15 youth. The cost avoidance of diverting these youth from a court evaluation or full-commitment was $736, 868. Table 14, below, presents the performance of Madison County.
TABLE 14: Cost Avoidance Resulting from Redeploy Illinois, by Year - Madison County
| Program Period |
Eligible
Commitments
|
Percent
Reduction from
Baseline
|
Number
Redeployed
|
Cost Avoidance |
|
Year One
1/1/05 - 12/31/05
|
31 |
6% |
2 |
$ 98,249 |
|
Year Two
1/1/06 - 12/31/06
|
20 |
39% |
13 |
$638,619 |
| 2 Year Figures |
51 Youth
Incarcerated
|
23% |
15 Fewer Youth
Incarcerated
|
$736,868 |
Note: Baseline number of eligible commitments = 33
4th Judicial Circuit
Since January 2009, the 4th Judicial Circuit has redeployed 37 youth. The cost avoidance of diverting these youth from a court evaluation or full-commitment was $1.8 million. Table 15 presents the performance of the 4th Circuit.
TABLE 15: Cost Avoidance Resulting from Redeploy Illinois, by Year - 4th Judicial Circuit
| Program Period |
Eligible
Commitments
|
Percent
Reduction from
Baseline
|
Number
Redeployed
|
Cost Avoidance |
|
Year One
1/1/05 - 12/31/05
|
30 |
35% |
16 |
$ 785,994 |
|
Year Two
1/1/06 - 12/31/06
|
25 |
46% |
21 |
$1,031,617 |
| 2 Year Figures |
55 Youth
Incarcerated
|
40% |
37 Fewer Youth
Incarcerated
|
$1,817,611 |
Note: Baseline number of eligible commitments = 46
2010 Redeploy Illinois Cost Analysis
Table 16, below, presents the most recent available year's cost analysis and reduction percentages for each of the Redeploy sites. For St. Clair County and Peoria County, the program period is FY2011; for the remaining sites the program period is CY2010.
During the 2010 program period, 166 youth were committed to IDJJ from Redeploy Illinois counties. According to the previous trend/baseline data, this represents a 53% reduction from the estimated 356 youth who would otherwise have been sent to prison during this period.
TABLE 16: Cost Avoidance Resulting from Redeploy Illinois, by Site - Most Recent Year Available
| Site Name |
Baseline
Number
|
Redeploy
Eligible
Commitments
|
Number
Redeployed
|
Percent
Reduction
from Baseline
|
Cost
Avoidance
|
| 2nd Circuit |
40 |
18 |
22 |
55% |
$1,080,742 |
| Macon |
51 |
36 |
15 |
29% |
$ 736,869 |
| Peoria |
78 |
42 |
36 |
46% |
$1,768,486 |
| St. Clair |
74 |
13 |
61 |
82% |
$2,996,601 |
| Lee |
11 |
1 |
10 |
91% |
$ 491,246 |
| McLean |
23 |
11 |
12 |
52% |
$ 589,495 |
| Madison |
33 |
20 |
13 |
39% |
$ 638,619 |
| 4th Circuit |
46 |
25 |
21 |
46% |
$1,031,617 |
| TOTALS |
356 |
166 |
190 |
53% |
$9,333,675 |
2005-2010 Redeploy Illinois Cost Analysis
Table 17 depicts the overall cost analysis and reduction percentages for each of the Redeploy sites since the program began in 2005. For St. Clair County and for Peoria County the data is reflected through June 30, 2011; for the remaining sites the data is reported through December 31, 2010.
Redeploy Illinois began as a pilot project in four sites and has since expanded to eight sites and 28 counties. The programs have provided individualized intensive services to more than 1,500 youth during this period. Prior to implementation in these counties, on average, 356 youth eligible for Redeploy services were being committed to DJJ each year. Because of Redeploy Illinois, these counties have instead committed 174 youth per year on average since 2005, a 51% reduction from the previous trend.
Table 17 further indicates that an estimated 1,737 youth would have been committed to IDJJ based on the previous trend data. Since implementation began, 85 Redeploy eligible youth were committed to IDJJ from these counties. This represents a 51% reduction or 886 fewer youth being committed to IDJJ, saving Illinois taxpayers an estimated $40 Million in unnecessary incarceration costs.
TABLE 17: Cost Avoidance Resulting from Redeploy Illinois, by Site - 2005-2010
| Site Name |
Baseline
Number *
|
Redeploy
Eligible
Commitments
|
Number
Redeployed
|
Percent
Reduction
from Baseline
|
Cost
Avoidance
|
| 2nd Circuit |
240 |
117 |
123 |
51% |
$6,036,072 |
| Kankakee |
29 |
25 |
4 |
14% |
$ 196,497 |
| Macon |
306 |
151 |
155 |
51% |
$ 7,613,377 |
| Peoria |
468 |
303 |
165 |
35% |
$8,081,162 |
| St. Clair |
468 |
126 |
342 |
73% |
$13,654,766 |
| Lee |
22 |
2 |
20 |
91% |
$ 982,492 |
| McLean |
46 |
21 |
25 |
54% |
$ 1,228,115 |
| Madison |
66 |
51 |
15 |
23% |
$ 736,868 |
| 4th Circuit |
92 |
55 |
37 |
40% |
$1,817,611 |
| TOTALS |
1737 |
851 |
886 |
51% |
$40,396,056 |
*Baseline - This figure is calculated as follows: the individual site baseline number times the number of years of program implementation.
1 Auditor General's Summary Report on the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice
