INSIDE
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Our Village, Our News
www.jolietbugle.com
JUNE 27, 2012
Vol. 4 No. 43
Contest Winners!
Voyager Media Father’s Day Tie Coloring Contest Winners won tickets to the Joliet Slammers and a tool set from MyGofer.
Caudil Spencerer James and fath
SHUT DOWN Quinn’s decision to close IYC-Joliet dismays local officials By Jonathan Samples Staff Reporter
It’s official. Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn finalized a decision Tuesday to close the Illinois Youth Center in Joliet and six additional adult and juvenile corrections facilities throughout the state. An internal memo released Tuesday evening confirmed that IYC-Joliet, IYC-Murphysboro, Tamms Correctional Center, Dwight Correctional Center, Southern Illinois ATC, Decatur ATC and Westside ATC would close later this year. With the exception of IYC-Joliet, which would close Oct. 31, the remaining six facilities have a closure date of Aug. 31. Kelly Kraft, director of communications for the governor’s office, said that the
Mia Vaughn and father Bleu
Jonathan Lina res and father Michae (Not Pictured) l
“I’m very disappointed... The governor is
thumbing his nose at the General Assembly.” State Rep. Larry Wash Jr.
Submitted Photo
State Sen. Pat McGuire offers testimony during an April hearing on the future of Illinois Youth Center in Joliet.
decision to close the Joliet facility is based on fiscal concerns and declining numbers of juvenile detainees. “The governor’s decision to close several facilities was made
after careful consideration and extensive deliberation with the Department of Corrections and the Department of Juvenile Justice,” Kraft said. “The Department of Juvenile Justice
has a declining population of youth which means the state no longer needs eight state detention facilities.” DJJ has also cited desire to change the culture of juvenile detention to one of rehabilitation as another reason for closing the Joliet facility. However, local legislators, including recently appointed Rep. Larry Walsh Jr. and Sen. Pat McGuire, feel IYC-Joliet is necessary. Both Walsh and McGuire have voiced their opposition in recent months to the governor’s
plan to close the Joliet facility, and both were shocked by the news. “I’m very disappointed,” Walsh said. “We worked very hard and long hours to make sure we had a balanced budget to make sure we could fund all the facilities that were slated for closure in the state of Illinois. The governor is thumbing his nose at the General Assembly.” Walsh said that the House worked to pass a balanced budget that set aside enough See IYC-JOLIET, page 2