SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - Sangamon County has reached an agreement to send juvenile offenders to a center in northern Illinois.
The Sangamon County Board approved the agreement Tuesday night.
The agreement with Lake County's Hulse Detention Center is more than 200 miles away. The detention center sits just north of Chicago approximately 20 miles from the Wisconsin border.
Sangamon County's juvenile center has been closed for more than a year. WAND News reported in October that despite enhanced security measures following a 2023 escape attempt and hostage situation, the county has not been able to meet state staffing requirements. A county spokesman has not provided a potential reopening date for the facility.
But Tuesday's agreement is in place for at least a year. It can be renewed with 30 days notice for another year, if necessary. Lake County is permitted to cancel the agreement for any reason with 30 days notice to Sangamon County.
Sangamon County will pay $170 per day to house a juvenile in Lake County. Sangamon County will also have to pay $60 per hour for emergency hospital or medical transports and cover any other medical costs not covered by insurance.
Springfield Police Chief Ken Scarlette told WAND News last month that his officers were seeing an increase in repeat juvenile offenders. Facilities across the state have been short on beds which has created space issues for several counties. With Sangamon County's lack of an operational facility, police and the courts have had little choice but to release juveniles from custody.
It's not clear how much it will cost Sangamon County to transport juveniles or how many officers would be responsible for the transport.
This is a developing story.
