Adult Redeploy Illinois (ARI) program

Adult Redeploy Illinois (ARI) program is sponsored by Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA). The Adult Redeploy Illinois (ARI) program provides grants to local jurisdictions to expand their capacity to safely supervise individuals in the community by investing in evidence-based practices shown to reduce recidivism.

Reallocating state resources to develop more effective, less expensive community-based alternatives to incarceration and improve access to interventions that reduce crime. ARI is based on local control and design because communities know best how to protect public safety and reduce recidivism. ARI uses "performance incentive funding" to support local investment in more effective and less expensive alternatives to incarceration.

ARI provides training and technical assistance, collects and analyzes data, and fosters a statewide learning community. Adult Redeploy Illinois (ARI) was established by the Crime Reduction Act (Public Act 96-0761) to provide financial incentives to local jurisdictions for programs that allow diversion of individuals from state prisons by providing community-based services.

Administered by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, ARI provides grants to counties, groups of counties, and judicial circuits to increase programming in their areas, in exchange for reducing the number of people they send to the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The Crime Reduction Act is based on the premise that crime can be reduced and the costs of the criminal justice system can be controlled by understanding and addressing the reasons why people commit crimes. It also acknowledges that local jurisdictions know best what resources are necessary to reduce crime in their communities.

Rigorous evaluation processes with standardized performance measurements are required to confirm the effectiveness of services in reducing crime. ARI is an example of a national best practice called "performance incentive funding" and is based on the successful juvenile Redeploy Illinois program.

Results expected from ARI include reduced prison admissions, lowered cost to taxpayers, and an end to the expensive and ineffective cycle of crime and incarceration. Performance Measurement Committee meeting: July 31, 2026 The ARI Oversight Board's Performance Measurement Committee meets Friday, July 31, 2026.

Outreach, Technical Assistance and Communication Committee meeting: July 16, 2026 The ARI Oversight Board's Outreach, Technical Assistance and Communication Committee meets Thursday, July 16, 2026. Funding Opportunity: ARI SFY27 Implementation Grants, Due July 27, 2026 The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is requesting proposals for grants for implementation of Adult Redeploy Illinois (ARI) programs.

Grants will be made with SFY27 funds. An estimated $500,000 in funding is available through this solicitation for use over a period of 9 months. ARI Oversight Board meeting: June 10, 2026 The ARI Oversight Board meets Friday, June 10, 2026, for its regular quarterly meeting.

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ICJIA launched the which provides a host of resources to support data-driven decision-making. Visit ICJIA's Research Hub » Criminal History Record Checks in Federally Assisted Housing Applications: 2025 Report By Ryan Maranville, Jessica Reichert Section 8.

10a of the Housing Authorities Act requires all Illinois public housing programs to collect and report to the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) data on an annual basis (310 ILCS 10/8. 10a). This report covers the 2025 calendar year and presents information provided to ICJIA by public housing authorities.

Firearm Prohibitors and Records Improvement Task Force 2026 Report By Firearm Prohibitors and Records Improvement Task Force The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act, 20 ILCS 3930/7. 9, created the Firearm Prohibitors and Records Improvement Task Force. The Task Force is charged with identifying, reviewing, and addressing gaps in firearm prohibitor reporting.

An annual report is to be submitted to the Illinois General Assembly until 2027. Assessing the Quality and Completeness of InfoNet System Victim Service Data By Amanda L. Vasquez, MA, Lucia F.

Gonzalez, MA, Jennifer Hiselman, MA, Caleb Schaffner, PhD The InfoNet system is an online application used by publicly funded Illinois domestic violence and sexual assault service providers. Containing more than 25 years of victim service data, InfoNet is used by providers to track client services and demographics, assess program performance, and support research on victimization trends.

To date, the quality and completeness of InfoNet data have not been systematically examined. To address this gap, we assessed the quality and completeness of InfoNet data and shared preliminary findings with providers to strengthen our examination. We used internal consistency of data across related system fields as a primary indicator of data quality.

Our assessment found that most InfoNet data fields are consistent and complete, confirming the quality of the data in this invaluable statewide resource.

However, we also identified five recurring challenges related to data collection and reporting for InfoNet: (1) client care taking precedence over data entry; (2) misalignment between system design and provider operations; (3) variations in provider adherence to standardization requirements; (4) difficulties recording sensitive information; and (5) field design limitations.

We offer targeted recommendations for improving InfoNet data quality and completeness, including potential system upgrades and expanded training on data collection standards.

While findings are specific to InfoNet, our recommendations could also help improve other administrative data systems used to document victim services, particularly those that must balance standardized reporting requirements with flexibility for handling diverse provider practices.

Illinois Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee: 2026 Biennial Report The Domestic Violence Fatality Review initiative consists of the Statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee (DVFRC) and regional review teams.

The purpose of the initiative is to make policy and practice recommendations for reducing domestic violence-related fatalities in Illinois that are informed by reviews of domestic violence fatality and near-fatality cases. In even-numbered years, the DVFRC submits a biennial report to the Governor’s Office and General Assembly synthesizing recommendations from case reviews conducted by regional review teams over a two-year period.

During the 2023-2024 period discussed in this biennial report, the DVFRC engaged its first cohort of five teams in team formation and case selection activities and supported a team in conducting its first case review.

The report details case reviews conducted by teams in 2025, describes the formation of a new team, and affirms that all first cohort teams are currently on pace to complete the required number of case reviews for the 2025-2026 reporting period. The DVFRC anticipates compiling and synthesizing recommendations from these reviews for its 2028 biennial report.

Community-Based Corrections Task Force Report The Community-Based Corrections Task Force Act (20 ILCS 4134) was passed in 2024 and signed into law as Public Act 103-0982. The Act created the Community-Based Corrections Task Force, which was charged with developing strategies to introduce community-based corrections and rehabilitation into the Illinois correctional system.

The ultimate goal of the task force was to create a program that would support the advancement of community-based corrections and remove barriers to pretrial services and to services for those on probation.

In pursuit of this goal, the task force invited experts to provide information about the current landscape of the community-based corrections system, best practices in the community-based corrections system, strengths and weaknesses of Illinois’ approach to community-based corrections, and existing programming to address identified gaps.

The task force also invited people with lived experience of involvement in the community-based corrections process to provide their perspectives. Based on this input, the task force provided recommendations focused on the need for new programming, increased awareness and training, and additional funding. By Lucia F.

Gonzalez, MA, Amanda L. Vasquez, MA Evaluation of the Action-Planning Process to Develop the Deflection Avenues Reconnection Team (DART) Police-Led Deflection Program in Central Illinois By Alex Menninger, Jessica Reichert The large number of Americans with substance use disorders and the rising number of drug overdose deaths have resulted in a need for innovative prevention and intervention strategies.

The Deflection Avenues Reconnection Team (DART) program, operating in six counties in central Illinois, was developed to address these challenges. This deflection program allows law enforcement to refer individuals to community deflection specialists for behavioral health services in lieu of arrest. This report presents an implementation evaluation of the action-planning process used to design the DART program.

We conducted field observations during action-planning sessions, administered surveys following each session, and distributed a collaboration survey at the end of the process. The DART action-planning process involved 34 law enforcement representatives and service providers who met over 5 days to plan the program. We examined facilitation, participant engagement, and perceptions of collaboration.

Observations from the DART planning process suggest that facilitation style and community member engagement may influence stakeholder participation during action planning. In addition, participants described facilitators and subject matter experts who reflect the local community's demographics as well-positioned to build rapport with local law enforcement partners and service providers.

Respondents also identified funding for recovery services and other resources as important to program and service provider buy-in.

Evaluation of the Development of Empower, a Multi-Jurisdictional Police-Led Deflection Program in West Central Illinois By Nancy Sullivan, Alex Menninger, Joshua Kirven, Cameron Kimble, Susan Alrifai, Katherine Wilson McCoy, Pedro Huet, Jessica Reichert Rural, multi-jurisdictional communities face challenges developing coordinated responses that connect people with substance use and mental health needs to services instead of the justice system.

We evaluated the action planning (AP) process for Empower, a multi-jurisdictional, police-led deflection program serving six counties in West Central Illinois, developed as part of a statewide Illinois deflection initiative. Deflection initiatives create formal pathways linking people with substance use and mental health needs to treatment and supportive services.

The Empower program was developed through six days of guided action planning involving local law enforcement, service providers, and community stakeholders. This process culminated in a written action plan outlining program goals, strategies, and implementation steps.

To evaluate the AP process, we conducted structured field observations across all AP sessions and administered daily surveys to participants assessing collaboration, engagement, and perceptions of program feasibility and sustainability.

Findings indicate that participants were highly engaged and reported strong collaboration during AP, while also identifying challenges related to uneven participation across counties and sectors, limited service availability, and resource constraints characteristic of predominantly rural regions. The findings reflect participants' perceptions during the action-planning process and do not assess program outcomes.

Based on the findings, we offer three recommendations to support implementation: strengthen participation and representation during planning and early implementation, identify strategies to mitigate service gaps in rural communities, and clarify structures for collaboration and accountability across jurisdictions.

Youth Leadership in Planning a Cook County Police Deflection Program By Alex Menninger, Katherine Wilson McCoy, Boya Lin, Jessica Reichert Police deflection programs offer an alternative to arrest by connecting youth to community-based services during police encounters.

The Chicagoland Youth Deflection Initiative (CYDI), which allows officers to refer youth encountered during motor vehicle stops to community-based supports, established a Youth Advisory Board (YAB) to incorporate youth perspectives into the planning process for development of the program. This evaluation documents youth participation in the planning process using survey responses and observations of YAB meetings.

Youth reported feeling comfortable participating and identified key considerations for the program’s design, including trust, equitable implementation, and the role of law enforcement. Perceptions of the program’s potential benefits varied across meetings, and youth expressed interest in continued involvement.

Findings describe how youth engaged in the planning process for the program and highlight considerations for structuring youth advisory boards, including facilitation, sustained engagement, and compensation or professional development opportunities. Illinois Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee: 2025 Annual Report By Vincent Sarna, Amanda L.

Vasquez The Domestic Violence Fatality Review Act created the Domestic Violence Fatality Review initiative, consisting of the Statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee (DVFRC) and regional review teams. Every year, the DVFRC submits an annual report to the Governor’s Office and General Assembly detailing its operations and activities over the past 12 months.

The 2025 Annual Report outlines key DVFRC and regional review team operations and activities in 2025. Over the course of the year, the DVFRC continued to meet on a quarterly basis, provide training and technical assistance to teams, and educate the public and stakeholders about the initiative.

In addition, the committee actively sought to recruit members for new teams in seven judicial circuits, pursued legislative changes to ease access to case records, supported the formation of a new team, and helped teams conduct 10 case reviews. The 2025 Annual Report also summarizes the DVFRC’s plans, which include continued training and technical assistance as well as efforts to establish additional teams.

2025 Task Force on Missing and Murdered Chicago Women Annual Report By Vincent Sarna, Karen Galbraith, Amanda L.

Vasquez The Task Force on Missing and Murdered Chicago Women Act created a task force, comprised of legislators, victim service providers, and criminal justice stakeholders, to examine five priority areas outlined in the Act: (a) systemic causes of violence against Chicago women and girls; (b) methods for tracking and collecting data on this violence; (c) policies and institutions related to the investigation and prosecution of gender-based violence; (d) measures to reduce violence against this population; and (e) measures to help impacted individuals heal.

The 2025 Task Force on Missing and Murdered Chicago Women Annual Report examines current initiatives by government agencies, community-based organizations, and an ad hoc committee focused on women and girls affected by violence.

Drawing in part on input from community members with lived experiences, the report makes a set of recommendations that emphasize the need for additional research on gender-based violence, public awareness of resources for victims’ families, survivor-centered policies and practices, and funding for government agencies and community-based organizations.

By implementing these recommendations, the state, local municipalities, and partners can help expand knowledge of critical gender-based violence issues, address identified challenges, and prevent future harm.

Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Cohort One Scale and Reach Report By Jaimelee Behrendt-Mihalski, Lauren Weisner, Thomas Johnson This report details findings related to scale and reach of Cohort One service delivery sites using administrative data submitted by Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3)-funded programs. Over 137,000 individuals were served and 369 new staff positions were created across Cohort One.

Civil legal aid programs managed more than 2,400 cases, including expungements/sealings, evictions, and income/asset protection. Economic development programs managed more than 2,200 cases and provided services in workforce, business, and financial development. Reentry programs managed more than 4,600 cases and assisted individuals with workforce development, healthcare, housing, and legal issues.

Violence prevention programs managed over 1,000 cases and assisted participants with workforce development, healthcare, and housing. Finally, youth development programs managed almost 1,400 cases and assisted youth in workforce development and education. Overall, across the five domains, a substantial number of Illinoisians were provided supports and services by R3-funded service delivery programs in Cohort One.

Co-Responder Program Overview: Waukegan − Community Outreach Group Co-responder programs integrate law enforcement officers and mental health professionals to offer immediate crisis intervention and support for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. These programs aim to provide de-escalation, connect individuals to community services, and reduce reliance on arrests or hospitalizations.

The Waukegan Community Outreach Group (COG) co-responder pilot program served individuals experiencing crisis in Lake County, Illinois, by having licensed social workers partner with the Waukegan Police Department to provide crisis response, victim assistance, and social service referrals.

This brief summarizes participant characteristics, service responses, and early implementation patterns using administrative program data collected between November 2023 and May 2025. During this period, the program served 276 participants, most of whom entered the program through police referral, and nearly half of whom experienced a mental health–related crisis.

Staff regularly connected participants to partner organizations and provided referrals to support services while operating within space and funding limitations. Co-Responder Program Overview: Peoria − Social Services Unit Co-responder programs integrate law enforcement officers and mental health professionals to offer immediate crisis intervention and support for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises.

These programs aim to provide de-escalation, connect individuals to community services, and reduce reliance on arrests or hospitalizations. The Social Services Unit (SSU) co-responder pilot program embedded a licensed social worker within the Peoria Police Department to provide crisis response, short-term stabilization, and referrals for individuals experiencing behavioral health-related emergencies.

This brief summarizes participant demographics, service patterns, and referral connections using administrative program data collected from January 2025 to July 2025. During this period, the program served 128 participants, regularly connecting individuals to partner organizations, mental health supports, and hospitals while operating with limited staffing capacity.

Co-Responder Program Overview: Springfield − Memorial Behavioral Health Co-responder programs integrate law enforcement officers and mental health professionals to offer immediate crisis intervention and support for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. These programs aim to provide de-escalation, connect individuals to community services, and reduce reliance on arrests or hospitalizations.

The Memorial Behavioral Health (MBH) co-responder pilot program served individuals experiencing a crisis in Springfield, Illinois. Through the program, mental health providers collaborated with the Springfield Police Department to provide crisis response and victim assistance. This brief summarizes participant characteristics, service responses, and program patterns using administrative data collected between July 2024 and January 2026.

During this period, the program served 704 participants, most of whom entered the program through 911 dispatch, and all of whom had experienced a mental health-related crisis. Staff regularly connected participants to social service organizations and provided referrals to support services. Co-Responder Program Overview: East St.

Louis – Embrace Co-responder programs integrate law enforcement officers and mental health professionals to offer immediate crisis intervention and support for individuals experiencing behavioral health crises. These programs aim to provide de-escalation, connect individuals to community services, and reduce reliance on arrests or hospitalizations.

The Embrace co-responder pilot program embedded licensed social workers within the East St. Louis Police Department to provide crisis response, short-term stabilization, and referrals for individuals experiencing behavioral health-related emergencies. This brief summarizes participant demographics, service patterns, and implementation challenges using administrative data collected from May 2023 through April 2025.

During this period, the program served 161 participants, most of whom were Black, and over half of all cases involved mental health-related needs. Program staff connected participants to partner organizations and social support resources while operating with limited staffing and referral infrastructure.

Research & Analysis Update, Winter 2026 Edition By Research and Analysis Unit The ICJIA Research & Analysis newsletter is published quarterly and highlights the work of the Research & Analysis Unit. Over 30 dedicated researchers work to improve the administration of justice and inform policy and practice in criminal justice, victim services, and violence prevention.

Lewd Sexual Display in a Penal Institution: State Fiscal Year 2025 Report By Center for Justice Research and Evaluation Public Act 103-283 amended the Criminal Code to establish the offense of "lewd sexual display in a penal institution." A person who is incarcerated commits this offense when they knowingly expose their genitals to individuals for the purpose of harassment or intimidation. Section 11-9.

2-2 of the legislation requires the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to compile information on any charges, referrals, and demographic information related to this offense from Illinois penal institutions and State's Attorney offices. This is the second annual report. Process Evaluation of a Rural, Police-Initiated Deflection Program in Southern Illinois: Leadership Team Feedback By Jessica Reichert, John P.

Smith, Cameron Kimble, Sharyn Adams, Alex Menninger, Nancy Sullivan, Joshua Kirven Rural areas often face gaps in behavioral health resources, with limited availability and the need to travel long distances to access services. To address such challenges, innovative strategies, such as police deflection programs, help connect people in rural areas to treatment without an arrest.

In order to advance understanding of rural deflection programs, we conducted a mixed-methods process evaluation of a rural state police-led deflection program, the Southern Illinois Community Engagement Response Team (SI CERT), serving seven counties. We examined who the program reached, how it was implemented in practice, and how collaboration among partners supported or constrained its goals.

As part of the evaluation, we explored feedback from the program leadership team, which included deflection staff, law enforcement, and social service providers. We interviewed all 11 team members, and seven completed a collaboration survey. We found leadership team members supported the program and agreed that it was helping the community by referring individuals to supportive services.

Program data showed that 223 participants were referred to the program; 66% voluntarily agreed to participate, and of those, 59% were referred to services. However, team members cited notable challenges, including limited resources, the composition of the leadership team, law enforcement engagement, and community visibility.

Nonetheless, in its three years of development, the SI CERT program appears to hold promise in helping rural community members with substance use disorders. Future research can extend the scope of evaluation by incorporating participant perspectives and measuring program outcomes.

Implementation Evaluation of a Program to Assist Victims of Violent Crime: Staff and Stakeholder Feedback By Alex Menninger, Jessica Reichert, Joshua Kirven, Nancy Sullivan, Rebecca Roberson, Eva Ott Hill Police are called to the scene of violent crimes that involve victims who may need, but may not be offered, supportive services. To address this, a police-led deflection program, the East St.

Louis Community Engagement Team (CERT), was established in Illinois. While police deflection programs have traditionally helped individuals with substance use challenges, this program sought to assist victims of violent crime. Since little is known about the application of deflection to this population, we conducted a process evaluation of ESL CERT.

We sought feedback from program staff and stakeholders, including law enforcement and social service providers. We conducted interviews and administered surveys measuring collaboration with its leadership team made of 11 members, as well as conducted two field visits. Members noted that a strength of the program was that its staff successfully engaged with participants, which led to successful connections to services.

However, noted weaknesses included limited support for the program from local service providers and a lack of agreement on whether the program was the most effective way to help individuals who were victims of crime.

Our recommendations included improving program development, building trust among program stakeholders, addressing barriers to program engagement, increasing the program's impact, and addressing program sustainability concerns. Research & Analysis Update, Fall 2025 Edition By Research and Analysis Unit The ICJIA Research & Analysis newsletter is published quarterly and highlights the work of the Research & Analysis Unit.

Over 30 dedicated researchers work to improve the administration of justice and inform policy and practice in criminal justice, victim services, and violence prevention.

Illinois K-12 Public School Personnel Readiness for Supporting Student Mental Health By Jessica Reichert, Ryan Maranville, Jing Wang, Ebonie Epinger With rising rates of mental health disorders among youth, schools have become essential settings for early identification and intervention, despite often facing resource limitations.

This study surveyed 160 Illinois K-12 public school personnel to assess their knowledge of mental health, preparedness, and use of mental health skills. Regression analyses examined how individual-level demographic and professional characteristics influenced these outcomes.

University-level training, prior completion of professional workshops, and roles in administration or healthcare were positively associated with higher pre-training mental health knowledge. These factors, along with roles in physical or mental/behavioral health, were also linked to greater self-reported preparedness and responsiveness.

However, no significant associations were found between personnel characteristics and their reported use or application of mental health skills. These findings underscore the importance of targeted, role-specific training to strengthen school personnel’s capacity to support student mental health and promote more inclusive and responsive school environments.

2024 Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee Annual Report By Illinois Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee The Domestic Violence Fatality Review Act created the Domestic Violence Fatality Review (DVFR) initiative. It consists of a two-tiered structure composed of the Statewide Domestic Violence Fatality Review Committee (DVFRC) and regional review teams.

Domestic violence fatality reviews aim to prevent future domestic violence related fatalities and near-fatalities by examining system vulnerabilities and identifying and supporting implementation of policy and practice recommendations.

Comprised of subject matter experts, such as legislators and legal, medical, and law enforcement system representatives, the DVFRC provides training and technical assistance to regional review teams, serves as a repository for teams’ policy and practice recommendations, and supports the implementation of those recommendations.

Illinois’ five regional review teams select cases for review, coordinate and conduct reviews, and submit recommendations to the DVFRC. This annual report describes the DVFR initiative’s organizational structure, summarizes the operations and activities of the DVFRC and regional review teams in 2024, and identifies challenges encountered.

It concludes by outlining some next steps, including the recruitment of a second cohort of regional review teams and the development of additional training and technical assistance materials for teams. Colton's Task Force: A 2025 Illinois Domestic Violence Task Force Report By Vincent Sarna, Amanda L. Vasquez, Mary Ratliff The Domestic Violence Task Force Act established Colton’s Task Force.

Colton Tanner Miller was a young boy killed by his father with a firearm during a domestic violence incident in Illinois. Created in Colton’s memory, the task force was charged with conducting a comprehensive review of the process, operation, and enforcement of current Illinois domestic violence laws, identifying gaps, and developing recommendations for addressing them.

Members identified probation and firearm relinquishment as domestic violence-related topics to explore in greater depth through subject matter expert presentations and robust discussions. The task force found that despite a wide range of domestic violence resources in Illinois, like specialty courts and the Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council initiative, that certain gaps existed.

The gaps identified included the lack of a multidisciplinary coordinated response to domestic violence, actionable protocols for relinquishing firearms in domestic violence cases, and funding to address them. This report concludes with recommendations for improving Illinois’ response to domestic violence through increased firearm relinquishment enforcement measures.

Statewide Violence Prevention Plan for Illinois | 2025-2029 Violence is a global public health crisis and a leading cause of death in Illinois. Many individuals and communities across the state experience its devastating impacts, including harm to health, mental well-being, economic stability, and relationships. Preventing violence is essential.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) is committed to supporting and funding violence prevention efforts statewide. This report is intended to guide ICJIA’s violence prevention planning from 2025 to 2029. It also serves as a resource for state agencies and community organizations seeking to develop their own prevention strategies.

The plan outlines three overarching violence prevention goals, with specific recommendations under each. It is designed to be actionable, flexible, and responsive to the diverse needs of Illinois communities. By Rachel Garthe, Madisyn Welsh The goals and recommendations of the Statewide Violence Prevention Plan: 2020-2024 were informed by a needs assessment that analyzed data on violence mostly from 2018.

Data updates were needed to prepare for the Statewide Violence Prevention Plan for Illinois: 2025-2029. This Violence Data Update provides updated rates of violence and examines trends in violence rates over time, largely focusing on 2020-2023. Data updates cover child maltreatment, youth violence, and additional forms of violence, including elder abuse, human trafficking, gun violence, and adult violent crimes.

Percentages and rates of violence remained consistent across most forms of violence discussed in this report. However, rates of firearm deaths increased in 2020 and 2021 and remained high in 2022. Disparities in rates of violence continued to exist for minoritized groups and in certain geographies.

This report aided planning for the Statewide Violence Prevention Plan for Illinois: 2025-2029, helping ensure that recommendations matched data and trends. Research & Analysis Update, Summer 2025 Edition By Research and Analysis Unit The ICJIA Research & Analysis newsletter is published quarterly and highlights the work of the Research & Analysis Unit.

Over 30 dedicated researchers work to improve the administration of justice and inform policy and practice in criminal justice, victim services, and violence prevention.

The Evaluation of the Illinois Multi-Site Police-Initiated Deflection Initiative By Alex Menninger, Jessica Reichert, Nancy Sullivan, Cameron Kimble, John Smith, Sharyn Adams Deflection programs are an emerging approach to redirect people who have experienced police contact away from the criminal legal system and toward supportive services, with the goal of improving outcomes for individuals, communities, the justice system, and public health.

The Illinois Multi-Site Deflection Initiative is a groundbreaking project aimed at increasing the number of deflection programs in the state to help individuals who come into contact with police. Since 2021, the initiative has been spearheaded by the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) in partnership with the Illinois State Police and Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC).

As of July 2024, the initiative has 11 programs operating or in the planning stage across 45 counties. IDHS funded the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) to conduct an independent evaluation to study the programs’ planning, development, and operations, as well as assess and measure outcomes. We share the evaluation design, data, and challenges faced during this multi-year evaluation.

The evaluation team’s process evaluation assesses program activities and offers recommendations for programmatic enhancement. We offer a point-in-time description of current evaluation activities and future plans. Firearm Prohibitors and Records Improvement Task Force 2025 Report By Firearm Prohibitors and Records Improvement Task Force The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Act, 20 ILCS 3930/7.

9, created the Firearm Prohibitors and Records Improvement Task Force. The Task Force is charged with identifying, reviewing, and addressing gaps in firearm prohibitor reporting. An annual report is to be submitted to the Illinois General Assembly until 2027.

Recidivism outcomes of Illinois Prison Work Release Program Participants By Jessica Reichert, Jing Wang, Ryan Maranville, Eva Ott Hill, Karl Gruschow Reentry into the workforce for formerly incarcerated individuals is fraught with challenges, including limited education and employer stigma. However, employment post-release has been found to reduce recidivism.

Prison work release programs, such as Illinois’ Adult Transition Centers (ATCs), may effectively facilitate employment and reduce recidivism for reentering individuals. This study evaluated the impact of ATC participation on recidivism outcomes. We used propensity score matching to create a comparison group of non-ATC participants with characteristics similar to the participants.

The sample consisted of individuals released in 2016 or 2017, with rearrest and reincarceration tracked through 2021. Survival analysis revealed that ATC participation was associated with a 15. 5% lower probability of rearrest and a 36.

9% lower probability