Update: August 20, 2008
On or about August 16, 2008 Safe Haven's Alsip Residential Program for Women was severely impacted by Governor Blagojevich's Budget Cuts. Safe Haven had to put 52 Women and their children out of their residential program because of Governor Blagojevich's budget cuts. The 52 Women and their children were dispersed to various homeless shelters.
August 12, 2008
What is your plan for reducing recidivism? What can we do with the Second Chance Act of 2007 to overcome this dilemma?
The 2008 Pew report suggests 1 in 100 Americans are incarcerated. Most of this incarceration is due to recidivism.
Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich suggests his “Sheridan Project” is a National Model to reduce recidivism. The Sheridan Project at Sheridan Correctional Center is being run by a nefarious mob of AFSCME Local 31 union members, employees of the Illinois Department of Corrections who have racial discriminatory practices and disparities, and WestCare Foundation, Inc. employees who practice indifferent treatment.
Governor Blagojevich appointed a committee of State employees and community activist who developed and created a report called “Inside Out: A plan to reduce recidivism and improve public safety.” I think we can throw this out the window also. This has 2 major flaws. It includes the Sheridan Project and did not anticipate Governor Blagojevich’s budget cuts for fiscal year 2008-2009.
Governor Blagojevich has cut community-based substance abuse and alcohol services, along with their aftercare programs, which is supposed to support the Sheridan Project. Governor Blagojevich has cut these programs by 50% or more. Governor Blagojevich has cut his Sheridan Project’s substance abuse services by only 10%. What do we need with substance abuse services in prison when there will be no aftercare services in our communities?
What Governor Blagojevich has done is unleashed the dilemma of substance abuse and alcoholism upon the communities of Illinois attempting to persuade other Illinois lawmakers to go his way with the Illinois budget. Is this nefarious or what?
