Prison Diversion Program Also Saving Money

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Published on December 1 2016 2:59 pm
Last Updated on December 1 2016 3:22 pm
Written by Greg Sapp

A program known as Adult Redeploy Illinois appears to be accomplishing its goal of keeping non-violent offenders out of prison and saving money in the process.

ARI distributed more than $15.5 million in grants to local jurisdictions to support problem-solving courts and other interventions. In total, the program's statewide network has diverted nearly 2,500 non-violent offenders from Illinois prisons, representing cost avoidance to the state of nearly $76 million.

The ARI site network grew to include 24 locally designed and controlled prison diversion programs at 22 sites covering 39 counties.

ARI is a state funding program designed to build and support more effective and less expensive community alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders.

One of the places Adult Redeploy Illinois is used is the 4th Judicial Circuit, specifically in Effingham and Christian counties. The Effingham Area Problem-Solving Court also addresses offenders in Clay, Jasper and Fayette counties.

Kris Winters of the Effingham County Probation Office said 35 to 40 persons are involved in the problem-solving courts offered locally, including Drug Court, as well as Veterans Court and Mental Health Court.