Media Coverage | December 8, 2016

Illinois Budget Crisis Hurting Public Safety, State’s Attorneys Say

Three Fight Crime members says budget has impacted many programs that keep kids out of the criminal justice system

Three top Illinois prosecutors ― all members of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids ― appeared on WTTW’s “Chicago Tonight” program, calling for an end to Illinois’ budget impasse. Stopgap funding for the state will expire at the end of the year.

State’s Attorneys Brendan Kelly (St. Clair County), Tyler Edmonds (Union County) and Mike Nerheim (Lake County) detailed the crisis facing proven crime prevention initiatives like Redeploy Illinois, Teen Reach after school, child care, and home visiting programs.

State’s Attorney Kelly told reporter Carol Marin, “We are part of Fight Crime: Invest in Kids because we understand that you have to not just lock folks up in order to improve public safety. You have to invest in things that prevent crime in the first place, and that includes investing in kids. And the way the budget impasse has unfolded — not just now but over the past year or so — has negatively impacted many of the programs that we rely on to keep kids out of the criminal justice system.”

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