SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois Senate passed a plan to provide more educational opportunities for young people serving time in the Department of Corrections.
The Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice could be required to establish an emerging adult program for individuals 18 to 21 in Illinois prisons.Â
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Sen. Laura Murphy (D-Des Plaines) said her bill would allow these young people to participate in individual or group therapy, case management, vocational training and higher education opportunities.
"According to DJJ, they anticipate starting with 20 emerging adults when the program is initiated," Murphy said. "It has the capacity to scale up to approximately 50 to 60 adults from IDOC within the first year of operation, based on current facility staffing and budget."
Over 1,000 Illinois prisoners are 65 or older, and a growing number of those people are in need of end of life care and support services.
Qualifying prisoners would have the opportunity to transfer to the Illinois Youth Center in Harrisburg for educational and holistic services. While Senate Republicans appreciated the intent of the bill, they are concerned about logistics for prisons and juvenile detention centers.
"How do they get transported," asked Sen. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro). "The responsibility increases for security when you're moving those that are in an adult facility to a juvenile facility."
Sen. Sally Turner (R-Lincoln) is also concerned that the proposal would not allow these adults to transfer to the future juvenile justice center in Lincoln.
Senate Bill 426 passed out of the Senate on a 41-15 vote. The House could discuss the legislation during the final three weeks of session this month.
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