Sample Resolution for the Reinstatement
of Higher Education Programs for Illinois Correctional Centers

WHEREAS, Gov. George Ryan's third round of budget cuts eliminated the higher education programs for the Department of Corrections at 10 Illinois community colleges: Black Hawk, Carl Sandburg, Illinois Central, Illinois Eastern, Illinois Valley, Kaskaskia, Lake Land, Rend Lake, Richland, and Southeastern and two private higher education institutions: MacMurray and Roosevelt;

WHEREAS, Lake Land College is the single largest provider of higher education programs for seven correctional facilities: Danville, Dixon, Dwight, Graham, Southwestern, Taylorville, and Vandalia;

WHEREAS, the elimination of higher education programs will have a more devastating effect proportionately at Lake Land College than at any Illinois two-year or four-year college;

WHEREAS, 20 percent (73 employees) of the College's full-time workforce and 74 part-time Lake Land College employees will be laid-off by eliminating higher education programs at Illinois correctional centers;

WHEREAS, at Lake Land College more than 1,200 inmates are enrolled and 700 FTEs are generated by students enrolled in higher education programs;

WHEREAS, since Fall 1997 1,580 inmates have graduated from the higher education programs at Lake Land College and 3,088 students out of FY01's annual enrollment of 13,522 students were enrolled in the College's higher education correctional programs;

WHEREAS, the College's budget could be impacted by a half million dollars in State funding of apportionment including enrollment driven grants such as Advanced Technology Equipment, Special Populations, and Workforce Development Grant for Business and Industry in 2003;

WHEREAS, earlier this year, Governor Ryan indicated that higher education programs for corrections was a State priority when he appointed Dr. Luther, Lake Land President, to chair a statewide task force addressing the employability of ex-offenders, for which the State has received federal research funds;

WHEREAS, a 1997 Study by the Illinois Department of Corrections and Illinois Council on Vocational Education concludes that postsecondary vocational education reduces recidivism. According to the study, the group that received postsecondary education had a recidivism rate of 13.1 percent, far less than the rate for the general prison population at 39.2 percent;

WHEREAS, the same study concludes that reducing recidivism translates into vast cost savings in Illinois' correctional facilities. "In 1996, there were 22,097 exits from prisons. In theory, if the rate of return continues as that of the general prison population, in three years, 8,661 former inmates would return to prison at a cost of $144,725,310 (annually) to the taxpayer. If postsecondary education is used and recidivism is reduced to a rate of 13.1% only 2,894 would recidivate, costing taxpayers $48,358,770. This lower recidivism rate would result in an annual savings of $96,366,570 at the current rate of the general prison population's recidivism;

WHEREAS, statewide, this cut will eliminate 275 full-time and 300 part-time employees, and affect 10 community colleges, two private colleges, and more than 3,639 inmates;
WHEREAS, the elimination of the higher education programs at correctional centers will affect every Illinois taxpayer and community when ex-offenders return to their home communities and can't find employment because they do not have employable skills;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Trustees of Lake Land College urges the State of Illinois Governor George Ryan and the Illinois State Legislature to reinstate the higher education programs at Illinois correctional facilities;

For information on the shutdown of higher education programs at Illinois correctional facilities, click here or call ICCTA at 1-800-454-2282.



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Illinois Community College Trustees Association
401 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 200
Springfield, IL 62701-1711
217-528-2858 (phone)
217-528-8662 (fax)
ICCTA@communitycolleges.org (e-mail)
http://www.communitycolleges.org



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