Study Notes Effectiveness of Kane Co. Pre-Trial Diversion Program

The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office is noted in a recent report for its study on the effectiveness of pretrial diversion programs. The recently released report, No Entry: A Survey of Prosecutorial Diversion in Illinois, is the result of a survey of all Illinois state’s attorney’s offices. The survey was conducted by Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities’ Center for Health and Justice.

Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities’ Center is a Chicago-based organization that advocates for those affected by substance use problems, mental health conditions, and justice system involvement, according to a news release.

The report summarizes TASC’s findings as it provides a brief look at the state of prosecutorial diversion in Illinois to share information about practices and innovations that could lead to cost savings, improved public safety and health, according to the news release. The TASC report analyzed responses from 54 prosecutorial diversion programs in 37 Illinois counties, including Kane.

The report noted that the Deferred Prosecution program administered by the Kane SAO with the support of the Kane County judiciary and the community is buoyed by a 2015 study that quantifies the effectiveness of pre-trial diversion, according to the news release.

The study found that more than 92 percent of offenders who complete the program do not re-offend. The study became the first known empirical data to support the effectiveness of pretrial diversion programs in Illinois. Aurora University and the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority worked with the Kane SAO on the study.

In addition to the survey, TASC’s report looks at a variety of elements of pretrial diversion programs, including stakeholders, implementation and effectiveness, according to the news release.

The report made several recommendations, including the use of evidence-based practices; ensuring resources are focused in areas of greatest impact; the use of community-based services; advocacy for expanded community-based services; standardized goals and performance measures; standardized data collection and analysis models and mechanisms; and cross-system education, training and assistance.

Kane’s Deferred Prosecution program is following those recommendations.

“The survey highlights the work of state’s attorneys to meet local needs, and the needs of people coming through their systems, while also highlighting areas for improvement and growth,” TASC President Pam Rodriguez said.

“We focused on prosecutorial diversion because of prosecutors’ unique position to convene partnerships and build collaborative solutions to local criminal justice problems,” Rodriguez said.

Kane County State’s Attorney Joe McMahon has long been a strong supporter of pretrial diversion programs.

“Diversion programs receive widespread support in Kane County’s criminal courtrooms – from our office, from judges, and from defense attorneys – because they effectively address issues with people who need an alternative approach. I support and advocate for diversion programs and alternative courts because they hold people accountable yet provide an opportunity to move forward, they benefit the community, and they reduce long-term costs. They are the right thing to do,” McMahon said.

“We constantly work to improve our services, so we are pleased to know that we meet and exceed the objectives developed in TASC’s findings,” McMahon said.

The Kane SAO’s Deferred Prosecution program began in 1995 under the name Second Chance. It offers five programs for non-violent offenders – Felony/Misdemeanor, Misdemeanor Drug/Alcohol, Domestic Violence, Solicitation/Prostitution, and Felony Drug.