HR0568 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0568 LRB095 12581 RLC 37826 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly passed Senate Bill 92 during the 94th General Assembly which created the Department of Juvenile Justice to change the culture within youth facilities from an adult correctional model to a treatment model, along with creating a continuum of programs to support reentry and step down from secure facilities to the community; and

WHEREAS, Senate Bill 92 which created this new agency was signed into law by Governor Rod Blagojevich on November 17, 2005 and became Public Act 94-696 with an effective date of June 1, 2006; and

WHEREAS, It is the continued belief of this House that juvenile facilities should be completely separated from adult corrections, and should fulfill the mission "to provide treatment and services through a comprehensive continuum of individualized education, vocational, social, emotional, and basic life skills to enable youth to avoid delinquent futures and become productive, fulfilled citizens"; and

WHEREAS, Prior to the commencement of operation of the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Governor invited a broad-based group of legislators, stakeholders, advocates, union representatives, and experts to work on transition planning; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Juvenile Justice Transition Team met regularly for a 6-month period, completed a detailed Transition Plan, and presented the plan to the Acting Director prior to the commencement of operation of the Department of Juvenile Justice on July 1, 2006; and

WHEREAS, Nearly one year later, the Department of Juvenile Justice is receiving criticism for failure to meet educational and programming standards; and

WHEREAS, Members of the House responded by holding a hearing of the House Juvenile Justice Reform Committee on June 20, 2007 which heard reports from the Acting Director Kurt Friedenauer, from representatives from AFSCME who worked at St. Charles and Joliet Youth facilities, from the Governor's Office of Management and Budget, and from the John Howard Association; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that based on the concerns raised at the recent hearing we urge that:

(1) the Governor's Office act appropriately and move swiftly to complete selection of and appointment of a permanent Director of Juvenile Justice;

(2) the Governor's Office act appropriately and move swiftly to appoint an Advisory Board, as required under the authorizing legislation;

(3) the Governor's Office act appropriately and move swiftly to approve new job classifications, hire staff provided for in appropriations, and fill education and teaching vacancies as quickly as possible;

(4) the Director of Juvenile Justice move forward in an effort to hire a Superintendent of Education for the Department;

(5) the Governor's Office, Department of Juvenile Justice, and the State Board of Education explore new approaches to recruiting and retaining educational personnel in the Department of Juvenile Justice to address the teaching shortages and educational needs of the youth;

(6) the Director of Juvenile Justice develop training programs for supervisory and line staff, emphasizing the impact of the new treatment philosophy on approaches to discipline; and

(7) the Director of Juvenile Justice continue tracking and requiring oversight of the use of the troubling disciplinary practice of solitary confinement, which is condemned by international children's rights agreements and prohibited in most industrialized nations; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Governor of this great State of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, report back to the 95th General Assembly no later than December 1, 2007 the named directors, board members, and other referenced personnel that the Executive branch is under a duty by law to appoint; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be forwarded to the Governor, the Department of Juvenile Justice, and the State Board of Education.