Eighty-six percent of kids who spend time in Illinois prison end up going back, either to a youth or adult prison. Everybody involved agrees that to fix that, we have to get kids a special kind of help when they get out - not just parole like adults get. The state’s counting on a small pilot program in Cook County to lead the way. It’s called Aftercare.The name gives you an idea of all that’s intended: counseling, help with school and getting off drugs. Officials are rushing to expand the pilot statewide. Thing is, after three years, there’s no evidence it’s working. We talk with Dept. of Juvenile Justice Director Candice Jones and local juvenile advocate Elizabeth Clarke. We also talk to Keith Snyder, Executive Director Juvenile Court Judges’ Commission in Pennsylvania, about the program’s success in that state. Photo: Flickr/710928003