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The cycle of violence in our region takes an enormous toll.Too often juvenile offenders are channeled into a system that makes them better criminals rather than better citizens. Meanwhile, too many adult offenders are caught in a revolving door of recidivism; roughly 40 percent of inmates released from Illinois prisons will be back in prison within three years. It’s bad for everybody – for the communities disrupted by crime; for the offenders, whose lives never amount to much; and for taxpayers, who pay for this platinum revolving door. Chicago Metropolis 2020 is working for better outcomes in our legal and corrections systems
WBBM Radio 780 AM Features Chicago Metropolis 2020 Senior Executive Paula Wolff in Panel Discussion on Juvenile Justice On December 23, 2007, Paula Wolff participated in a panel discussion on WBBM's award-winning weekly public affairs interview show "At Issue", hosted by WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore. The topic was the Juvenile Justice system in Illinois and the newly-released findings by the MacArthur Foundation's Models for Change initiative. To listen to the broadcast in its entirety (about 30 minutes), you may click on the WBBM logo below (note this is a large file approx. 8 MB).
2006 Crime and Justice Index (CJI) On Monday, October 30, 2006, Chicago Metropolis 2020 released its 2006 Crime and Justice Index (CJI) - an examination of the region’s crime rates, increasing prison population and challenges facing ex-prisoners. Crime and justice is not just the concern of lawyers and police, not just the concern of crime victims and advocates of prison reform. When our governments in Illinois commit $7 billion annually to crime and justice all of us have a reason to take a closer look at how it is spent. We don’t have all of the answers. We do have an idea of how to improve the system and spend tax dollars more wisely. We’re encouraging thought and discussion.
Recently, there was significant media coverage of the release of the 2006 Crime and Justice Index (CJI).
Older Media Coverage
Juvenile Justice Reform: Models for Change Chicago Metropolis 2020 is pleased to be a member of the Illinois Coordinating Council for the Models for Change initiative (MfC). The Models for Change initiative is an effort to create successful and replicable models of juvenile justice reform through targeted investments in key states and is funded by the Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. With long-term funding and support, Models for Change seeks to accelerate movement toward a more effective, fair and developmentally sound juvenile justice system that holds young people accountable for their actions, provides for their rehabilitation, protects them from harm, increases their life chances, and manages the risk they pose to themselves and to the public. The initiative is currently operating in Illinois, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, and Washington.
For more information on the Models for Change initiative, please visit: http://www.modelsforchange.net Redeploy Illinois hailed as model for nation Chicago Metropolis 2020 has long been a proponent of establishing programs in Illinois to reduce inefficient and ineffective juvenile justice systems. Several years ago, Chicago Metropolis 2020 was a member of a coalition that advocated for the establishment of Redeploy Illinois, a program that gives financial support to counties that provide comprehensive services to delinquent youth in their home counties. On March 23, 2006, the Justice Policy Institute (JPI) issued a national report that highlights similar reforms in Pennsylvania, California, Wisconsin and Ohio, as well as Illinois. The report cites Redeploy Illinois as example of the kind of program other states should embrace as a way to reduce prison costs and prevent young offenders from falling into futures dominated by criminal behavior and incarceration.
Mayoral Policy Caucus on Prisoner Reentry issues major report In May 2004, Mayor Richard M. Daley convened the Mayoral Policy Caucus on Prisoner Reentry. The Caucus--chaired by Roxanne Ward of Ariel Capital Management, and Paula Wolff of Chicago Metropolis 2020--is composed of leaders from government, business, community and faith-based organizations and foundations, as well as ex-offenders and their family members. It spent a year and a half studying issues of prisoner re-entry. On January 24, 2006 the final report of the Mayoral Policy Caucus on Prisoner Re-Entry was released with recommendations calling for:
It is also our hope that the findings of the Caucus might be applicable even beyond the boundaries of the City of Chicago across the Chicago region.
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