Partnership can save millions of dollars

Due to concerns over rising juvenile crime in the 1990s, counties acted quickly to mitigate this public safety threat by constructing juvenile detention facilities to hold youthful offenders. DuPage County built a facility that could house 90 juveniles as well as offer needed treatment and programs.

Over the last decade, DuPage has experienced a steep drop in the number of juveniles admitted to the detention facility. Since 2000, the average daily population has decreased by more than half. At one point several weeks ago, the facility only housed 10 youthful offenders. Other counties are experiencing similar issues; Cook County is considering plans to close one of its facilities next year.

The cost to DuPage taxpayers to operate the detention center is significant — more than $400 per juvenile per day. This is more than three times the daily cost of tuition at the University of Illinois. Recent studies question the effectiveness of juvenile detention and raise the possibility that this measure increases, rather than prevents, recidivism by youthful offenders.

Fortunately, we have an option that would effectively close DuPage County’s Youth Home and save millions of tax dollars in future years. This week, the DuPage County Board will vote on a plan to send our juvenile offenders to Kane County’s regional detention facility at a substantially reduced cost to taxpayers. Furthermore, this facility offers programs and services that DuPage cannot offer due to diminishing state support.

By partnering with Kane County, we can save millions of tax dollars while demonstrating regional cooperation in the area of juvenile justice. At a time when tax dollars are limited, we must take a new approach to every issue. Taxpayers want to see government operate more dynamically and eliminate unneeded or outdated programs; this partnership is a solid step in the right direction.

Dan Cronin, Chairman

DuPage County Board