Illinois Youth Center St.Charles

IYC-St. Charles, a facility of the Juvenile Division of the Illinois Department of Corrections, is located on Route 38 outside the city of St. Charles on 125 wooded acres, surrounded by a double fence. The 125 acres includes the five acres on-grounds "Boys' Lake."

Many buildings constructed in the early 1900s remain in use giving the facility a campus appearance, although several newer buildings have been incorporated into the facility design, including The Sam Sublett School (1967), dietary, dining room, kitchen and stores (1982), Medical and Confinement Unit (1989), administration building (1995) and greenhouse (2002).

Highlights

Construction of a new gatehouse and a visitor and program building began during FY 2003. These buildings will replace gatehouses from the 1930s. Additionally, a new employee parking lot will provide ample parking at the southern entrance of the facility, which will increase parking for visitors at the northern entrance of the facility.

The facility has three main components, reception, general population and special treatment. The Reception Unit has historically admitted all male juveniles into the Juvenile Division until IYC-Harrisburg began admitting offenders into the Southern Reception Unit during FY 2002.

During a two to three week stay in reception, offenders are interviewed and evaluated to determine which facility will best meet their needs.

Offenders in general population are involved in a diverse range of programs based upon an assessment of their individual needs. The two Special Treatment Units assist offenders with emotional disorders through intensive mental health services, a myriad of program services and a residential substance abuse program that creates a therapeutic milieu within which offenders participate in individual and group treatment while planning for a drug-free return to community living.

The Illinois Youth Center-St. Charles is a Level 2 medium-security facility. It is unique as an institution because in addition to the general population program, the facility processes the majority of all male offenders committed to IDOC.

The type of offender assigned to this facility may have an overall designation of high, medium or low escape risk. He will be classified as either high or medium security risk based on his committing offense and criminal history, size, age, level of aggressiveness and security threat group (STG) orientation. Offenders with all classes of crimes are assigned here. Offenders convicted as felons with determinate sentences less than 10 years may also be assigned here.

Offenders with minimum to moderate mental health needs and those in need of substance abuse treatment are likewise assigned to IYC-St. Charles.

Additionally, IYC-St. Charles has an infirmary providing 24-hour nursing coverage and any male offenders requiring infirmary care in the Juvenile Division are assigned to IYC-St. Charles.

One of the main goals of the Operations Department during this fiscal year was the centralization of toxic substances. To this end, the chief of security, security staff and maintenance staff visited facilities throughout the northern part of the state to review the best practices that were already in place. With this knowledge, maintenance staff moved personal property to a new location to place the central toxic area in close proximity to the roll call room and the security equipment room. This allowed security staff to receive all necessary equipment and toxic substances following roll call.

The centralization of toxic substances has improved the control and use of toxic substances and increased the accountability of these substances. The implementation of centralized toxic substances has resulted in reduced expenditures for the purchase of toxic substances, thereby decreasing waste of cleaning supplies, although sanitation standards remain consistently high. Staff cooperation, dedication and different departments working together to achieve this goal were realized.

During FY 2003, the Early Retirement Incentive (ERI) affected IYC-St. Charles workforce. Thirty-three employees with extensive knowledge and experience in the Juvenile Division took advantage of this opportunity at the center. Employee resources needed to realign to maintain accountability, provide direction, supervision, leadership, continued quality program services to youth and maintain the safety and security of the facility.

Through cooperation between administration and the local union, employee resources were realigned and a new table of organization emerged. The warden became responsible for the supervision of the operation departments. The assistant warden of programs became responsible for the Reception and Classification Unit. And, the Business Office became responsible for timekeeping, payroll, insurance and worker's compensation with the Employee Services Department being dissolved.

Temporary assignments were used to ensure the continuation of services to youth and provided employees an opportunity to experience professional growth and development. Employees demonstrated their excellent work ethic, genuine concern for youth and employees stepped up to the plate to fill any voids experienced due to the retirement incentive.

Program services continue to change and develop at IYC-St. Charles to meet the needs of the youth population. The Clinical Services Department provides assistance to youth on a daily basis, addressing their concerns, providing crisis intervention, recommending program services and assessing their readiness for transition to a community setting. This year, the Clinical Services Department was successful in paroling 96 percent of the youth who were presented to the Prisoner Review Board.

The Treatment Department successfully increased and enhanced mental health services at IYC-St. Charles. Of the 2,441 youth admissions to the R&C Unit, a total of 955, or 39 percent, received intensive evaluation.

The Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program grant was renewed this year. Of the 1,209 screened in the program, 580 were referred for substance abuse treatment and 289 youth were referred for psychological treatment. Overall, this is a substantial increase from the 970 offenders screened in FY 2002.

The general revenue funded substance abuse assessor program began January 2003, allowing an additional 187 offenders to be screened. There were 254 youth admitted into the therapeutic community with 157 youth successfully completing the program. The program maintained 100 percent capacity for the year, demonstrating a continued need for substance abuse treatment.

IYC-St. Charles Health Care Services provides services for the reception youth and also general population. The Medical Unit completes a medical history, physical and dental examinations and lab work for each youth. The lab work screens for sexually transmitted disease and tests for overall general health. Additionally, all program youth are seen annually for an annual physical.

Both the reception and program youth have access to medical and dental treatment. During sick call in FY 2003, a total of 5,348 youth were seen for various medical concerns.

IYC-St. Charles was unable to provide 24 hour nursing coverage for part of the year. The facility's infirmary was closed from October 2002 until May 2003 because of staffing shortages. The facility provided nursing coverage from 6 a.m. until 10 p.m. with the administrator being available for calls during the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. shift. Youth with acute medical conditions were transferred to IYC-Kewanee for infirmary services. As of May 2003, the facility has reopened its 12-bed infirmary and is providing 24-hour nursing coverage.

Religious programming continues to expand. In addition, 14 volunteer-led Bible studies were offered, with a total of 135-175 youth participating each week. In addition to multiple religious programs, the chaplains provide youth with Bible studies as well as disciplining, mentoring and spiritual direction and crisis pastoral care.

The Leisure Time Activity (LTA) Department oversees the gym, weight room and teen center activities for the youth. Highlights of FY 2003 events include the Black History Month Program, Prison Direct Ministry Program and Our Community Cares Youth Conference.

Additionally, the volunteer coordinator, LTA Department and chaplains organized a total of 6,998 volunteer hours to supplement their programs.

The Sam Sublett School was built in 1967. Programs offered for students assigned to IYC-St. Charles include five vocational programs, level one classes for students who have not yet passed eighth grade, level two classes for high school level students and a GED program.

School District 428 received a greenhouse, which was constructed by IYC-St. Charles' tradesmen. The greenhouse was opened during this fiscal year when students led by Americorp Volunteer, planted and grew flowers, tomatoes, squash, beans and corn for a local community food pantry.

Students in the vocational building trades constructed three sets of framed walls and a kitchen cabinet unit for one of the Habitat of Humanity homes.

During FY 2003, professional support for staff with emphasis on effective teaching and learning strategies was provided. A presenter trainer from Quantum Learning provided a two-day seminar to IYC-St. Charles educators, which included teaching students and modeling for educators the effectiveness of research-based practices.

In May, the Quantum Learning trainer returned as a coach for the teachers who had implemented the strategies. Lessons were planned and skills were further developed for sustained learning. Simultaneously, the emphasis on reading literacy was continued from FY 2002. A local author spent two days with students in classrooms sharing his books and helping students with their own writing. As a follow-up to the study of Shakespeare, students in one language arts class were able to see a play produced by a class of home-schooled youth. All educators were given computer software training and follow-up support.

Reducing Recidivism

During FY 2002 there were 750 youth returned to IYC-St. Charles Reception Unit as parole violators compared to 952 during FY 2003. To address this 27 percent increase in parole violators, the facility concentrated its efforts in the reduction of recidivism. Research literature was reviewed that revealed the causal factors for recidivism which include race, social economic status, gender, criminal history and conduct problems. The forces that influence recidivism include mental health problems, psychological skills and traits, self-perception, substance abuse, family and interpersonal relationships and school performance.

IYC-St. Charles concentrated on developing and maintaining programs that were aimed at these various factors through interconnecting the components of the facility to focus on the whole individual rather than isolating certain aspects of the individual. Treatment Unit staff provided intensive individual psychotherapy, family therapy, crisis management, specialized therapy groups and psychodiagnostic assessments. The Clinical Services Department provided psychoeducational groups, case management, career counseling, education counseling and linkage to community services.

The Educational Department served to improve and enhance an individual's intellectual abilities through special education, GED instruction, vocational services and diagnostic assessment.

IYC-St. Charles is also unique in the ability to offer a residential substance abuse treatment program inclusive of thorough mental health and substance abuse assessments as well as structured individual and group programming. The program ensures continuity of care and community linkage by aligning with TASC and community agencies. The Medical and Dietary Departments provide quality healthcare and nutrition, which nurtures the growing adolescent. The service through these departments also creates the solid foundation from which all other departments can build upon.

Security Initiatives

Through the review of major incidents occurring at IYC-St. Charles to improve safety measures for staff and youth, it was determined that the Dietary Department needed improved procedures to control youth movement, both in the dining room and dish room. The seating arrangement in the dining area was changed to reduce the amount of contact that cottages would have with one another. Staff was placed strategically throughout the dining room and remained present at all times in the dish room. The flow of traffic was redirected as cottages enter and left the area. Based on this reorganization, fighting between youth has been drastically reduced in this high traffic area, improving safety for staff and youth alike.

In FY 2002, there were 88 assaults on staff compared to 24 assaults on staff in FY 2003. Although there is no acceptable number of staff assaults, IYC-St. Charles continues to strive to make the workplace a safer place for employees and youth.

Also during FY 2002, chemical agents were dispensed 12 times compared to two times during FY 2003, demonstrating improved staff prevention and intervention skills. A dangerous disturbance was not experienced at IYC-St. Charles during FY 2003.

Additional enhancements and changes to improve the safety of IYC-St. Charles was the addition of three security employees to the Intelligence Unit, providing greater facility coverage of security threat group information.

New Technology and Automated Enhancements

Also during FY 2003, IYC-St. Charles received an automated Inmate Telephone Monitoring system, which has assisted in the gathering of intelligence information and the prevention of potential problems.

The Maintenance Department worked throughout the year on the deteriorating utilities, which has occurred due to the age of the facility. A high efficiency heat exchanger system in the laundry was installed requiring plumbing to be reconfigured.

Other technological advances include the increased ratio of computer workstations available to employees, increasing staff productivity and increasing budgetary savings through the reduction of overtime. Presently, there are 145 computer workstations for 165 institutional users.

Conclusion

FY 2003 was one of the most challenging years that the employees of IYC-St. Charles faced in light of the ERI, the closing of IYC-Valley View and ensuing layoffs, budget constraints and the increasing youth population.

IYC-St. Charles will celebrate its 100th Anniversary in the next fiscal year and will continue to meet the challenges of the Juvenile Division through the experience, knowledge, leadership, dedication, teamwork and support of the facility's employees.