The Illinois Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Strategic Plan for 2024-2029 outlines a comprehensive framework to enhance criminal justice practices in Illinois. The plan emphasizes evidence-based strategies to address key issues within the justice system. The strategic plan was developed with input from a diverse group of stakeholders, including law enforcement, judiciary, public health, and community organizations. Key priorities in the plan include addressing mental health and substance use disorders among justice-involved individuals; reducing violent and firearm-related crimes; and supporting victims and witnesses of crime. Additionally, the plan aims to improve criminal justice planning, data analysis, and the integration of technology to enhance data capture and sharing. The plan also emphasizes the importance of supporting public defense services and addressing housing needs for those involved with the justice system. The strategic planning process involved analyzing crime data, reviewing past funding allocations, and incorporating stakeholder feedback through surveys and listening sessions. The plan will guide the allocation of JAG funds to effectively support state and local initiatives to improve justice outcomes, advance system reforms, promote racial equity, and support underserved communities in Illinois.

Across the United States in 2020, over 1 million individuals were incarcerated and over 3 million were on probation. Many jurisdictions developed diversion programs to create an alternative to mass incarceration of individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. The purpose of Adult Redeploy Illinois (ARI) is to divert individuals with prior criminal histories and an active felony case from prison. ARI program values include racial equity in access programming experiences, and program outcomes. For this study, we explored whether or not there was equity based on age, sex, race, and region in ARI program outcomes and post-ARI program prison recidivism outcomes. Binary logistic regression predictive models were used to determine which variables, if any, predicted ARI program and/or recidivism outcomes. For both models, age, region, program type, property offense, criminogenic risk, and years in program predicted whether or not an individual completed their ARI program or recidivated. Sex and race did not predict outcomes or recidivism, providing evidence that racial and gender equity in program and recidivism outcomes exist. Implications for working with younger-aged individuals and for addressing regional programming assets were described, and future studies about equitable access to ARI programs were discussed.

In 2014, the Reentry Program, one of three components of Illinois’ Community Violence Prevention Program (CVPP) receiving funds through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, provided services to youth and young adults on parole and aftercare in 21 Chicago area communities in order to assist with their compliance with parole board orders and other aspects of successful community reintegration, such as educational enrollment and employment. Authority researchers examined the Reentry Program component of the Community Violence Prevention Program (CVPP) to ascertain how the program was meeting the reentry needs of Chicago area youth and young adults.