Cook Commissioners, Activists Call For Increase In Funding For Restorative Justice Programs
(CBS) -- Some Cook County commissioners want to amend the county budget to boost funding for programs to keep young people off the streets and out of prison, reports WBBM Political Editor Craig Dellimore.
Commissioner Bridget Gainer says the county earmarks $1.5 million for so-called restorative justice programs that provide alternatives for troubled young people to keep them away violence. She and Commissioner Robert Steele want another half million more.
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"About a third of the county's $3 billion budget goes toward criminal justice and what we're saying here is that instead of only handling the problem at the end, we need to move and address it at the beginning," Gainer said.
Fr. Larry Dowling of St. Agatha Parish and the Community Renewal Society says more programs are needed.
"The county has been good in helping with funding," Dowling said. "We need to expand on that. There is so much work to be done. There are so many people we're passionate about restorative justice who want to step up and to get involved in doing this work."
They say the money could come through savings in reducing the county jail population, among other things.
