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Report Scrutinizes Department of Juvenile Justice
A new report on the Department of Juvenile Justice and how it helps kids indicates that the agency has a lot of work to do. A review was ordered after two youth had committed suicide in DJJ facilities.

The report, by Behavioral Health Assessment Team, lists several problems, including:

* Too few staff

* Inadequate or non-existent assessments of the youths’ mental health

* Lack of training

* Deficiencies in working with families for information about the youth and for re-entry into the home

* Bunk beds that allow kids to self-harm.

Diane Geraghty, director of Loyola University's Civitas ChildLaw Center, is part of the group Illinois Models for Change. It was that group that assembled the review team. She says it's critical that the agency win more money to have enough staff on hand to really help these kids. She also says some improvements, like using better assessments, do not cost money.

Calls to the governor's office about the report and the new DJJ chief were not returned.

(Illinois Radio Network)
07 29 10 by Newsroom
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