IYC-Joliet is Illinois’ only maximum-security facility for boys.
Vital Statistics:
Population: 236
Average Age: 18
Average Annual cost per youth: $67,665
Population by Race: 11 White (4.5%), 191 Black (81%), 34 Hispanic (14.5%)
Source: IDJJ (4/19/2011)
Key Observations:
- Joliet suffers from a general lack of staffing. A reduction in population or an increase in funding is absolutely necessary to meet the needs of the youth.
- Cook County Jail currently sends juvenile parolees charged with adult crime to DJJ. While this practice alleviates overcrowding at Cook County Jail, it creates significant operational problems at Joliet.
- Current limitations on mental health classifications in Joliet will lead to inadequate mental health treatment or security risks.
- Due to a recent change, Joliet’s administration is unable to use its youth benefit fund effectively to reward and encourage good behavior.
- Committing offenses: 6 Murder, 24 Class X felonies, 51 Class 1 felonies, 69 Class 2 felonies, 40 Class 3 felonies, 42 Class 4 felonies, 4 Class A misdemeanors.
Read JHA's most recent report.
The John D. And Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s initiative, Models for Change, has funded the John Howard Association of Illinois (JHA) to monitor IDJJ’s facilities.
