 “My parents, my family, my significant other, nobody knew,” said Love, now 27.
“They might have had suspicions, but nobody knew until I called them from jail.”
This experience has become all too common in Illinois. The state Criminal
Justice Information Authority reports that nearly 13,000 inmates in Illinois’
prison system needed substance abuse treatment services during fiscal 2014. The
Illinois State Crime Commission describes heroin use as an epidemic.
One way to curb the heroin problem in Illinois is to change the way people who
commit drug-related crimes are scrutinized. And Illinois doesn’t have to look
far for ideas. In the Joliet area, a drug-court program has found a way to break
this cycle of crime and addiction at a fraction of the cost of incarceration.
Men and women convicted of crimes related to substance abuse in Will County are
eligible for drug court — an 18-month program that trades prison time and a
felony record for treatment, counseling and support. Love is one of the many
individuals who has been through this program.
Love said she flourished in the drug-court program, in which she received
treatment, did volunteer work, returned to school and landed a job — her
first.
“I think the longer I did those things, the more I built better feelings about
myself — more confidence — and drugs weren’t so important anymore,” she
said.
Since the program was launched 15 years ago, the Will County State’s Attorney’s
office has shepherded hundreds of addicts through it. The results are
astounding.
Less than 10 percent of graduates have reoffended, according to the office. But
statewide, 45 percent of all offenders return to life behind bars within three
years of release — each instance of recidivism costing taxpayers more than
$40,000 in court, arrest and prison costs, according to research by the Illinois
Sentencing Policy Advisory Council.
The cost of putting more than 300 graduates through Will County’s drug-court
program? About $3,000 each.
Meanwhile, the Illinois Department of Corrections pays nearly $22,000 in direct
costs per inmate . Add up employee health care, benefits, pensions and capital
expenses, and the cost per inmate is nearly $40,000.
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 Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow made international
headlines in 2012 for obtaining a murder conviction against former
Chicago-area police officer Drew Peterson. He’s also a champion of
this type of alternative sentencing, overseeing the Will County
mental health court, veterans court and drug court.
“We found a tool that works and we’re using it aggressively, ”
Glasgow said. “Because of the heroin problem the way it is,” he
said, “it’s critical that these individuals get into drug court not
just to avoid prison, not just to avoid a felony conviction, but to
stay alive.”
These are not hollow words from Glasgow. He counts Love as one of
his employees.
Without a felony on her record, Love was able to pursue legal
studies after graduating from drug court, and now works as a legal
secretary for the very people who prosecuted her for drug
possession — in the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Glasgow came to her interview.
“Finding out … I was getting the job, I think I cried,” Love said.
“It was one of my favorite days.”
These days, Springfield is mired in gridlock. Solutions to some of
the state’s most pressing problems are staring lawmakers in the
face, yet inaction subsists.
But there’s been a glimmer of hope in the arena of criminal justice
reform. Democrats and Republicans came together last year to enact
some reforms — and they should do so again now.
Of the nearly 13,000 inmates deemed in need of treatment for
substance abuse during fiscal year 2014, only half received it. It’s
time for Illinois to invest in the state’s more than 60 drug courts.
There are upfront costs, but the evidence is clear: this model can
dramatically reduce recidivism, ultimately saving scarce taxpayer
dollars and, more importantly, putting thousands more Illinoisans on
a path to a better life.
Keeping things the same, Glasgow says, is “going to bankrupt us.”
“I think we see that,” he said. “Compassion is the key to turning
the corner.”
Austin Berg is a Chicago-based writer with the Illinois Policy
Institute who is writing for the Illinois News Network, a project of
IPI. Austin can be reached at aberg@illinoispolicy.org.
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