Illinois Youth Prison To Convert To Adult Facility

Illinois Youth Prison To Convert To Adult Facility

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Lawmakers and advocates are cheering the decision to convert Kewanee Youth Center into a facility for adult inmates.

Kewanee Youth Center was slated for closure.

The Department of Juvenile Justice estimates that half the state’s young offenders are from Cook County — and believes detention facilities should be located close to family and jobs. 

Elizabeth Clarke with the Juvenile Justice Initiative says the Western Illinois facility will help ease severe overcrowding issues.