Hundreds Attend Hearing on Illinois Youth Center-Joliet
Hundred attended a hearing today on the proposed closing of the Illinois Youth Center-Joliet. More info on state's rational for the proposed closure and public comment here.
facility for young male offenders," McGuire said. "As we tighten the
belt, we must protect the core services the State of Illinois provides
to its residents. Public safety is a paramount core service. The
governor's proposal to close IYC Joliet threatens public safety and
poses far-reaching dangerous effects."
In February, Governor Quinn proposed closing dozens of state service
centers, including IYC Joliet. According to state law, the bipartisan
Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CoGFA), an
organization that represents the Illinois General Assembly, must hold a
series of hearings before any facility that employs more than 25 workers
can be closed. CoGFA then issues a recommendation that the facility
either be closed or left open. Though the commission's recommendation
is purely advisory, no governor has ever closed a facility over CoGFA's
objections.
"I respect the governor's good intentions toward the people of
Illinois," McGuire added. "However, the proposal to close IYC Joliet
appears to be rushed, haphazard, and narrowly focused on bricks and
mortar. The administration today offered fuzzy math and vague plans.
In contrast, the IYC staff and chaplain presented specifics about
effective services and the multimillion dollar capital investments the
State Senator Pat McGuire spoke out in favor of keeping IYC-Joliet open at today's hearing:
"Illinois Youth Center Joliet is our state's only maximum securityfacility for young male offenders," McGuire said. "As we tighten the
belt, we must protect the core services the State of Illinois provides
to its residents. Public safety is a paramount core service. The
governor's proposal to close IYC Joliet threatens public safety and
poses far-reaching dangerous effects."
In February, Governor Quinn proposed closing dozens of state service
centers, including IYC Joliet. According to state law, the bipartisan
Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CoGFA), an
organization that represents the Illinois General Assembly, must hold a
series of hearings before any facility that employs more than 25 workers
can be closed. CoGFA then issues a recommendation that the facility
either be closed or left open. Though the commission's recommendation
is purely advisory, no governor has ever closed a facility over CoGFA's
objections.
"I respect the governor's good intentions toward the people of
Illinois," McGuire added. "However, the proposal to close IYC Joliet
appears to be rushed, haphazard, and narrowly focused on bricks and
mortar. The administration today offered fuzzy math and vague plans.
In contrast, the IYC staff and chaplain presented specifics about
effective services and the multimillion dollar capital investments the
state has made in the facility in the past three years alone."
CoGFA will hold at least one more hearing on IYC Joliet, but the date of
the next hearing has not yet been scheduled.
the next hearing has not yet been scheduled.
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| State Senator Pat McGuire speaks at the hearing on the proposed closing of the Illinois Youth Center-Joliet |
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| Joliet City Council members Bob O'Dekirk and Larry Hug wear "Save IYC Joliet" shirts in the front row of today's hearing on the facility's possible closure |
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| Hearing on the possible closing of the Illinois Youth Center-Joliet at the Renaissance Center |
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| Hearing on the possible closing of the Illinois Youth Center-Joliet at the Renaissance Center -more video coming soon- |
