July 29, 2013
As explained in a previous Civic Federation blog, in Cook County’s FY2014 Preliminary Budget Estimates report, released on June 27, 2013, the County projects an initial budget deficit of $152.1 million for FY2014. The deficit primarily reflects increased personnel and employee health benefit costs, increased supply and vendor costs in the Cook County Health and Hospitals System, and reduced revenues due to the repeal of the 2008 sales tax increase and diversion of property tax revenue to pay for election-year expenses. The projected FY2014 deficit also reflects $12.0 million in costs associated with “Raise the Age” legislation (Public Act 98-0061). This blog describes the “Raise the Age” legislation and its impact on the County in further detail.
Public Act 98-0061, previously known as House Bill 2404, will require 17-year-olds charged with felony offenses to be housed in the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC). Currently, detained persons ages 17 and older are housed at the County jail. The new requirement goes into effect on January 1, 2014.
The County reports that the cost of housing one person in the County jail is $143 per day. This is significantly less than the cost of housing one juvenile in the JTDC, which is approximately $600 per day. It is more expensive to house a juvenile in the JTDC because juveniles are entitled to additional services, including education. The $12.0 million anticipated rise in expenses will increase the JTDC’s budget from $41.9 million in FY2013 to $53.7 million in FY2014.[1]
The chart below shows a comparison of JTDC population projections prior to the effective date of Public Act 98-0061and the impact of Public Act 98-0061 on the JTDC population. When the new law goes into effect in January 2014, the population at the JTDC is expected to rise from 296 in December 2013 to 358. The population is then projected to steadily increase to a high of 421 in July 2014 before dropping and fluctuating slightly over the following months.
Within the JTDC are centers, or divisions, that each house between 40 and 50 juveniles.[2] The County estimates that the centers will reach maximum occupancy when the JTDC population reaches approximately 375, which is projected to occur in March 2014.[3]
Despite the increased costs to the County and the challenges related to reaching maximum occupancy at the JTDC, Cook County Board President Preckwinkle has expressed support for the “Raise the Age” legislation. To address the added costs and population growth, the County is exploring alternatives to detention at the Center and contracting with other juvenile detention facilities to house detained County juveniles.[4]
[1] Cook County Preliminary Budget Estimates FY2014, June 27, 2013, page 9.
[2] Information provided by the Cook County Department of Budget and Management Services, July 25, 2013.
[3] Information provided by the Cook County Department of Budget and Management Services, June 26, 2013.
[4] Information provided by the Cook County Department of Budget and Management Services, July 25, 2013.