HR0941 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0941 LRB103 43266 MST 76550 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois and the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) are committed to enhancing public safety and reducing recidivism; and

WHEREAS, Studies have shown that community-based residential treatment facilities offering housing, counseling, workforce training, and other supportive services can reduce recidivism rates and improve successful reentry for individuals in the justice system; and

WHEREAS, Partnerships with non-profit providers can enable Illinois to offer safe, community-based residential facilities, where individuals receive mental health counseling, job training, substance abuse treatment, and restorative justice services, all of which contribute to lowering recidivism and enhancing community safety; and

WHEREAS, Alternatives to incarceration administered by community-based, non-profit organizations alleviate burdens on the Illinois budget by reducing the cost of incarcerating individuals in IDOC facilities; and

WHEREAS, IDOC currently spends $4,106 per person per month to incarcerate an individual in a department facility, according to its FY2024 Financial Impact Statement; and

WHEREAS, IDOC is permitted to contract with community-based, non-profit providers at that same rate on a per person, per month basis to house and support these individuals who would otherwise be incarcerated in a department facility at the same cost; and

WHEREAS, The contracts would support eligible individuals when subject to a judicial order to live and be served in a community-based facility as an alternative to incarceration; and

WHEREAS, These community-based non-profit facilities could neither be a private correctional facility nor a private detention facility pursuant to State law, but a residential treatment facility is permitted; and

WHEREAS, This approach envisions long-term outcomes such as reducing recidivism, promoting workforce readiness, and facilitating smoother transitions for individuals back into society; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Illinois Department of Corrections under their existing statutory authority to draft and adopt administrative rules authorizing community-based, non-profit residential treatment providers to apply for the same monthly Financial Impact Statement funds per person and per month to support their operations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge that these rules enable IDOC to automatically fund qualified community-based non-profit residential providers that meet objective state standards for service provision, safety, and rehabilitative support; and be it further

RESOLVED, That IDOC has existing statutory and budget authority to enter into these funding agreements with community-based, non-profit residential treatment providers that are not private correctional facilities or private detention facilities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That administrative rules governing applications, standards, and metrics for residential treatment facilities to qualify for automatic funding with IDOC would enhance transparency and incentivize more development of these non-profit residential treatment facilities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Governor of Illinois to encourage immediate steps toward implementing alternatives to incarceration contractual programs that emphasize rehabilitation, reintegration, and public safety.