A new Illinois law inspired by a Rock Island probation officer will create a Community-Based Corrections Task Force that will research the benefits of specialty courts and community-based correctional centers. It took effect on Friday, Aug. 9.
Illinois Senate Bill 3353 created the new task force to explore alternatives to incarceration in some cases. It was sponsored by Illinois state Sen. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, and prompted by Rock Island County Adult Probation Officer Andy Boswell.
Great ideas for legislation often come from community members because they have a unique understanding of a specific issue through lived experiences, Mr. Halpin’s office said in a news release.
“Listening to the experts and community residents is how we create common-sense laws that are fair to everyone,” he said. “This task force will show us how folks struggling with mental illness or addiction interact with our criminal justice system so we can achieve better outcomes for these individuals while keeping our communities safe.”
Mr. Boswell added in the release: “The mental health and substance abuse crisis is at an all-time high with around 80% of our current criminal offenders dealing with untreated substance abuse and mental health problems.
“The initiative seeks to greatly expand treatment-based solutions and divert individuals from incarceration. We need to salvage lost potential, save taxpayer money and pave a way for justice-involved individuals to recover so we can succeed in making our communities a better place for all our citizens,” Mr. Boswell said.
Alternative to prison
The legislation was approved by Illinois lawmakers in the summer. It was signed into law Friday by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. It creates a panel of experts to discuss the benefits of community-based correctional centers, specialty and problem-solving courts as alternatives to prison. Those alternatives provide a different way for individuals convicted of crimes to be rehabilitated back into society without having to be incarcerated
The alternatives also are designed to lead people out of a cycle with the justice system and into treatment programs, said state Rep. Gregg Johnson, D-East Moline. He sponsored the bill in the House.
“This legislation establishes a Community-Based Corrections Task Force to study the impact and efficacy of our criminal justice system in Illinois, with a focus on reducing recidivism and helping rehabilitated individuals successfully re-enter society,” Mr. Johnson said.
“In my three-plus decades working in the Illinois Department of Corrections, I saw firsthand what works – and what doesn’t. This task force will give incredibly valuable insight that will help make our neighborhoods safer and our system more just.”
Mr. Boswell added: “We can achieve this through the courts establishing stronger connections with our community partners in mental health, substance treatment, housing and employment. The blueprint is there for success, we just need to put everything into place.”
