$7M Going Toward Non-Violent Offender Program

State officials are putting $7 million more toward efforts to move non-violent offenders from prison into community-based programs.

Gov. Pat Quinn said Sunday in a statement that community programs save money and are shown to produce better results in rehabilitating non-violent offenders.

The grants are going to 34 counties through Adult Redeploy Illinois.

A version of the program targeting juveniles was started in 2004. It's run by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.

Among those getting the most money are $1.5 million for the Cook County Justice Advisory Council and more than $640,000 for Winnebago County Circuit Court.

Quinn's office says that since 2011, the program has diverted more than 1,000 non-violent offenders. State officials estimate in 2012 the sites spent $4,400 per person versus approximately $21,500 in incarceration costs.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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