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Home   >   News   >   Regional News   >   Watchdog John Howard Assoc.Says Kewanee Youth Center Should be Closed; Treatment “Insufficient”

Watchdog John Howard Assoc.Says Kewanee Youth Center Should be Closed; Treatment “Insufficient”

By on December 13, 2012

(AP)  A PUBLIC WATCHDOG GROUP SAYS ILLINOIS STATE OFFICIALS SHOULD MOVE MENTALLY ILL OFFENDERS FROM A HENRY COUNTY(IL) YOUTH DETENTION CENTER BECAUSE TREATMENT THERE IS INSUFFICIENT.

A REPORT BY THE JOHN HOWARD ASSOCIATION SAYS ONLY 8 OF 17 MENTAL HEALTH POSITIONS ARE FILLED AT THE ILLINOIS YOUTH CENTER AT KEWANEE. THE 11-YEAR-OLD FACILITY IS DESIGNATED AS THE DETENTION SITE FOR DELINQUENT TEENS WITH SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.

THE REPORT — RELEASED YESTERDAY(WED) AND GIVEN TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IN ADVANCE — SAYS KEWANEE OFFERS ONLY HALF THE TREATMENT OF OTHER DETENTION FACILITIES.  THE REPORT SAYS UNTIL THERE ARE ENOUGH STAFF MEMBERS, RESIDENTS SHOULD BE MOVED FROM KEWANEE AND COURTS SHOULD STOP COMMITTING KIDS THERE.

AN ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF JUVENILE JUSTICE SPOKESWOMAN DID NOT IMMEDIATELY COMMENT.