[Peace] Fw: Hearing targets alt. to incarceration

[Randall Cotton]

Hope to see many of you tonight...
R

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ilona Gregory" <ilona.thinkinc at ameritech.net>
To: "Champagne List-updated 10/2006" <ilona.thinkinc at ameritech.net>
Sent: Friday, October 27, 2006 12:17 PM
Subject: Hearing targets alt. to incarceration


> ILLINOIS ALLIANCE FOR SAFER COMMUNITIES
> Convened by The Developing Justice Coalition
> For more information contact:
> Ilona Gregory
> Telephone:  773.832.9101
> Cell: 773.412.6749
> E-mail: Ilona.thinkinc at ameritech.net
>
> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2006
>
> MEDIA ALERT
>
> PUBLIC HEARING TARGETS ALTERNATIVES TO INCARCERATION
> FOR LOW-LEVEL DRUG OFFENDERS
> Hearing in Champaign-Urbana is third of six around state; innovative SMART Act
> to be discussed
>
> What:    Legislators, community leaders, civic and religious will come
> together for a public hearing to discuss how to improve public safety and
> develop effective alternatives to incarceration from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on
> Friday, October 27, 2006 at the Urbana City Council Chambers, 400 South Vine,
> Urbana, Illinois.
>
> The meeting will be hosted by the Illinois Alliance for Safer Communities and
> is convened by the Developing Justice Coalition (DJC).  DJC is a statewide
> alliance of community-based, social service and religious organizations that
> have successfully worked together on criminal justice reform, public safety,
> and prisoner re-entry issues.
>
> * In 2003, Illinois taxpayers spent an estimated $246 million to incarcerate
> adult inmates for nonviolent drug offenses.  Data shows that alternatives can
> lead to major cost savings; the cost of mental health screenings, drug
> addiction assessment, and drug education for one year is $300 per person,
> while the annual cost for incarceration is $21,000.
>
> * The SMART Act is a prominent alternative to incarceration that will be
> discussed at the hearing.  The Act will be modeled after the successful Cook
> County State¹s Attorney¹s Office Drug School program, which reduced recidivism
> rates among participants and saved public dollars that would have otherwise
> been spent on incarceration.  The SMART Act is an acronym for Substance Abuse
> Management Addressing Recidivism through Treatment.
>
> * Through the SMART Act, judges would have a sentencing option to order
> alternative sentencing and intensive treatment for repeat drug offenders in
> appropriate cases.
>
> * Members of the Illinois Alliance for Safer Communities in Champaign-Urbana
> include Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice, Developing Justice
> Coalition, Inner-City Muslim Action Network in Champaign, Muslim Students
> Association from the University of Illinois, and Project Restore.
>
> Who:         Participants to include:
> * Civic, business, and community leaders and residents
> * Representatives from the Champaign-Urbana Citizens for Peace and Justice,
> Developing Justice Coalition, Inner-City Muslim Action Network (Champaign),
> Muslim Students Association (at the University of Illinois), and Project
> Restore
>
> When:         5:00 p.m., Friday, October 27, 2006
>
> Where:     Urbana City Council Chambers, 400 South Vine, Urbana, Illinois
>
> For more information, please contact Rami Nashashibi at 773.793.7667
> ###