The Illinois Department of Corrections Advisory Board met Oct. 3 to review the job partnership report.
Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the board:
The Board advises Department of Corrections director on policy matters and programs for adults confined in state correctional institutions, and for the care and supervision of those released on parole.
IDOC Adult Advisory Board Minutes
Monday, October 3rd, 2016 Peoria ATC 10:00 am
Attendance: David Olson, Phillip Whittington, Carlos Gomez, Laura Kunard, Gladyse Taylor, John Baldwin, Carolyn Gurski
Call in: Edna Lee, Maggie Burke, Tracey B. Williams
• David Olson called the meeting to order at 10:12am
• Roll call was taken
• Review of minutes from June 20th meeting. 1correction made. Motion to approve by David Olson, 2nd by Laura Kunard. Board approved.
• Information was shared with the Board regarding the Governor’s Commission meetings. There will be 1 more meeting to be held after the November 2016 election to review and vote on recommendations of the commission. Report should be provided at the end of the year. There was some discuss on revising the Illinois Drug Laws. Proposal to move every drug offence down 1 felony class and making every felony offense start with 1 year. There was conversation about eligibility of offenders for the ATC’s.
• Jobs Partnership Report given by Ron Budzinski. Currently working on the Community Centers. The proposed facility to pilot the program will have 30 residents where the goal is to reach 90, adult males who would have access to the programing. There will be a graduated housing option, dorm setting. Program is set up on level system that would have benchmarks to achieve. The goal is to transition offenders to a studio apartments. Employment is also part of this program. Currently looking at ways to create jobs and not limit to just he jobs that are now available. There are two types of funding coming designated to #1 energy efficiency areas, #2 alternative energy (technical). Medium security would be eligible for the program along with other criteria. This program is for federal, state, county offenders. Have formed several partnerships to accomplish the different faucets of the program. {Handouts provided to the Board with more information regarding the program.}
• The announcement of the upcoming IDOC Charrette to be held October 13th at the JRTC. The purpose of the Charrette was given to identify programming solutions for IDOC’s Life Skills Prison at Kewanee. The Board was welcomed and encouraged to attend.
• RASHO report given by Director Baldwin. 2 units at Elgin Mental Health facility will be utilized by IDOC. Women will be moved first then the men. Updates given to the Board
on the RASHO RTU progress, completion dates and occupancy. Wardens will be announced soon for most of the facilities. Percentages given to the board on population numbers in all categories of confinement. Overall population has decreased since Jan 2016 to date. Director Baldwin will be meeting with the University of Illinois Chancellor in 2 weeks. IDOC is proposing offering internships Meeting with the University of Illinois Chancellor in 2 weeks. IDOC offering internships, doctoral thesis and dissertation type programs. IDOC will also be changing the entire hiring process and training. Background checks are being done after a candidate has been selected. Most of staff has been to NAMI training and has taken core correctional practices. 2nd chance grant given and will extend to the parole department.
• Women’s report read by Carolyn Gurski.
• ATC Report given by Director Baldwin & Gladyse Taylor. Looking to increase bed size to 1000 beds but not final. Discussing eligibility requirements.
• New Business- None
• Meeting adorned at 12:21 pm
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