Peoria ATC

The Peoria Adult Transition Center is located at 607-613 Main St., Peoria, Ill. The facility is a renovated three-story brick structure that is leased from the private sector. The center's association with the city of Peoria has existed for more than 30 years. The center houses 200 male offenders and has a staffing complement of 48 employees and five contractual employees. A center supervisor and two assistant supervisors of operations and programs administer the center.

Highlights

In FY 2002, Peoria ATC worked with Hanna City Work Camp to provide manpower services to the community and special functions. In FY 2003, due to the closing of Hanna City Work Camp, Peoria ATC upheld the responsibility to the fullest degree. There were multiple tasks including lawn care, painting, moving furniture, winterizing homes for the elderly and disabled, cleanup after events, such as fireworks and those held at the riverfront and parks in Peoria.

The following are some of the places the center was able to give assistance: Central Illinois Agency on Aging, Oktoberfest on the Riverfront, Erin Feis 2003 on the Riverfront, River City Soulfest on the Riverfront, Western Avenue Greenway Project, Gus Macker Basketball Tournament, Heart of Illinois Fair, Heart of Illinois United Way, W. H. Sommer Park Balloon Fest, Peoria Park District, Lutheran Services and the University of Illinois Extension Anti-Hunger Coalition.

Reducing Recidivism

Peoria ATC programs contribute to the reduction of recidivism. Counseling and case management programs provide guidance, goal setting, budget management and re-entry planning to promote positive and responsible offender behavior.

Chaplaincy services are available on site through volunteers and also in the community. Spiritual guidance can play an instrumental role in reducing recidivism. Addiction recovery management is provided on site and also in the community. The Hazelden Drug Education Program is conducted on site. Substance abuse services are also offered at the Human Service Center. Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Programs are offered. Staff escort offenders to AA/NA in the community weekly. Offenders can also submit requests to go to AA/NA on their own.

Mental health and psychiatric services are provided on a referral basis at the Human Service Center. The Peoria Public School District No. 150 offers an education program on site. Programs in pre-GED and GED are available. More than 100 offenders participated in academic programs and 19 earned their GED in FY 2003.

Illinois Central College offers a culinary arts program on site. The volunteer chaplain is currently conducting a violence interruption/anger management program. This program helps offenders improve insight and self-control. Crittenton Care and Counseling Center of Peoria conducts parenting education classes. Veterans are referred to local agencies, such as Vets Center, Peoria Veterans Clinic and Goodwill for services specific to their needs. Employment services and assistance is offered through the Illinois Department of Employment Security.

Security Initiatives

During the last year, Peoria ATC operations has upgraded the monitoring camera system in the control center. The system now allows a view of all 14 cameras at the same time or individual monitoring. The center has increased the number of daily physical spot checks to better ensure compliance with offender movement outside the facility. The center also identified and constructed two new storage areas to help with the ongoing concern of spacing. In addition, a new personal property and key control area is under construction to improve the personal property processes.

Fiscal Responsibility and Budgetary Compliance

During FY 2003, new offenders privileged to come to Peoria ATC were presented with new linen and pillows purchased through the Resident Benefit Fund. New residents repay the fund whenever money becomes available to them. Usually this happens when the offender finds employment.

Indicator Reports

In the area of drug prevention, positive drug tests dropped from 22 in FY 2002 to 11 in FY 2003. Positive alcohol tests dropped from 36 in 2002 to 17 in FY 2003.

New Technology and Automated Enhancements

A new system was set up through Springfield for offenders to have money sent through Western Union as a wire transfer. To accommodate this system, a new fax machine was needed for the business office to receive this confidential information.

Conclusion

In summary, it is the vision of the Peoria ATC to not settle for good enough, but to strive to reach maximum potential. The administration and staff at Peoria ATC are most proud of the fact that during FY 2003 unauthorized absences and escapes of offenders were at a minimum. In comparison to past years, the number of unauthorized absences has been cut in half and escapes are down to less than half.

In addition, Peoria ATC makes every effort to assist each offender to seek and locate gainful employment. Once employed, the center helps them maintain employment through a regiment of counseling in life skills on a daily basis.

Staff reports an offender employment rate for FY 2003 between 85 and 90 percent. The residents of the center are expected to contribute 20 percent of their earnings based on net income after taxes to offset costs. Peoria ATC offenders contributed $294,600.69 in maintenance during FY 2003. This money is returned to the General Revenue Fund.