| 2024 Department of Juvenile Justice |
| Mission Statement |
The mission of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice is to build youth skills and strengthen families to promote community safety and positive youth outcomes. |
| Program Goals and Objectives |
- Develop a structural framework and foundation necessary to deliver services to youth.
- Develop and implement performance-based standards that are consistent with contemporary practices in the field of juvenile justice.
- Enhance and further develop the Aftercare system that is designed to enhance the chances for success upon a youth's re-entry into the community.
- Expand and enhance skill building, educational and vocational opportunities for all youth in custody.
|
| Source of Funds |
General Revenue Fund, Department of Juvenile Justice Reimbursement and Education, Department of Corrections Reimbursement and Education Fund |
Statutory Authority |
730 ILCS 5 |
|
Fiscal Year 2025 Target/Projected |
Fiscal Year 2024 Actual |
Fiscal Year 2024 Target/Projected |
Fiscal Year 2023 Actual |
Fiscal Year 2022 Actual |
| Input Indicators |
| Total expenditures - all sources (in thousands) |
$ 132,824.2 |
$ 120,910.3 |
$ 116,529.8 |
$ 112,319.2 |
$ 107,063.9 |
| Total expenditures - state appropriated funds (in thousands) |
$ 132,824.2 |
$ 120,910.3 |
$ 116,529.8 |
$ 112,319.2 |
$ 107,063.9 |
| Average monthly full-time equivalents |
950.0 |
715.0 |
880.0 |
696.0 |
756.0 |
| Output Indicators |
| Education spending per capita (in thousands) |
$ 64.7 |
$ 58.2 |
$ 58.9 |
$ 56.7 |
$ 81.0 |
| Aftercare services spending per capita (in thousands) |
$ 79.4 |
$ 83.0 |
$ 64.6 |
$ 62.3 |
$ 61.5 |
| Youth enrolled in Aftercare |
277.0 |
255.0 |
277.0 |
277.0 |
274.0 |
| Number of students enrolled in DJJ's school district |
138.0 |
126.0 |
130.0 |
130.0 |
85.0 |
| Number of students enrolled in online classes |
138.0 |
126.0 |
130.0 |
130.0 |
85.0 |
| Number of youth enrolled in post-secondary vocational or college programs (a) |
110.0 |
107.0 |
100.0 |
67.0 |
18.0 |
| Number of youth in Illinois Youth Centers |
187.0 |
169.0 |
155.0 |
155.0 |
127.0 |
| Number of youth enrolled in mental health treatment in youth centers |
175.0 |
159.0 |
242.0 |
242.0 |
181.0 |
| Number of youth enrolled in substance abuse treatment in youth centers |
30.0 |
34.0 |
30.0 |
30.0 |
26.0 |
| Outcome Indicators |
| Number of youth awarded General Equivalency Degrees (GEDs) and high school diplomas |
68.0 |
53.0 |
62.0 |
62.0 |
58.0 |
| Percentage of youth employed at discharge |
27.00% |
24.31% |
0.00% |
N/A |
N/A |
| Percentage of youth with a high school diploma, GED, or actively attending school at discharge |
55.00% |
49.54% |
0.00% |
N/A |
N/A |
| Efficiency/Cost-Effectiveness Indicators |
| Percentage of youth reincarcerated within three years of release |
31.70% |
31.70% |
29.80% |
29.80% |
35.70% |
Explanatory Information
The Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ) works to provide treatment and services through a comprehensive continuum of individualized educational, vocational, social, emotional, and basic life skills that will enable youth to avoid delinquent futures and become productive, fulfilled citizens. The Department is working towards implementation of the 21st Century Illinois Transformation Model, which focuses on reducing the harm of incarceration by transitioning youth to small, regional residential centers, investing significantly in community wraparound support and intervention services for justice-involved youth, and increasing financial support for victim services in communities that are disproportionately impacted by violence. In 2025, DJJ will be opening a new facility in Lincoln, IL to serve youth in the central region of the state.
Improvements to Education
IDJJ will be focused on enhancing the quality of education for committed youth. School District 428 continues to work collaboratively with the State Board of Education to develop an enhanced educational curriculum and specialized programming and services for committed youth that ensures federal and state educational program compliance. IDJJ will continue to recruit educators and expand its vocational education opportunities for youth in custody. In 2024, DJJ transitioned one facility to the Phoenix Emerging Adults Career & Education Center (PEACE) to equip graduate young adults ages 17-20 with vocational, career, educational, and life skill development opportunities in a setting that is developmentally appropriate for young adults. DJJ is Addressing the needs of individuals in Illinois Department of Corrections custody who need high school educational services, including by hiring educators to teach within IDOC facilities and by transitioning IYC Harrisburg to serve emerging adults currently in IDOC custody who need high school educational services, consistent with Public Act 103-0875.
Improvements to Rehabilitative Services
IDJJ will enhance interventions that are proven to reduce recidivism and produce positive youth outcomes. Using the Youth Assessment and Screening Instrument (YASI) model, IDJJ has identified areas of the highest risk for our youth and evidence-based programs designed to address those risks. IDJJ is expanding its rehabilitative programming, including trauma-informed care and mental health services. In 2025, DJJ’s YASI screening instrument was updated to provide more accurate risk assessments for youth remanded to our care and expanding a mobile intake process.
Footnotes
Educational services for DOC youth started in fiscal year 2025, so there is not any data entered for those services in fiscal year 2024.
Public Accountability Report
