From the press release:
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY RACIAL JUSTICE TASK FORCE RELEASES FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO REDUCE DISPARITIES IN CRIMINAL-JUSTICE SYSTEM
Community members are invited to the Champaign Public Library on November 30th to learn about the recommendations and discuss next steps.
Champaign County, IL, November 6, 2017 – The Champaign County Racial Justice Task Force has released its findings, “Report and Recommendations to Reduce Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System.” The report includes 31 recommendations directed to the County Board and other entities in Champaign County. The recommendations span seven focus areas created through community input. The report and appendices are publicly accessible through the Champaign County website (click here to view the report).
Recommendations include more diverse community engagement by the County administration, improved training and hiring practices for law enforcement, pre-trial services with validated risk-assessment instruments, reducing court fees for low-income individuals, a comprehensive plan for restorative practices in the County, an increase in the use of the Youth Assessment Center, and fair housing rights for individuals with criminal records. Additionally, many members of the community offered their own recommendations during interviews with the Task Force. The report’s final section summarizes this community feedback.
Community Report Release Event
Community members and community organizations are invited to the Racial Justice Task Force Final Report Release event Thursday, November 30th at 6:30 pm at the Champaign Public Library’s Main Branch (200 W Green St., Champaign, IL). Task Force members will give a brief outline of the findings and recommendations. There will also be a Q&A session and open discussion time to encourage the community to consider next steps for carrying out the recommendations. Light refreshments will be served. The event is co-sponsored by the Champaign County ACLU, Champaign County NAACP, and the National Council of African American Men.
The Task Force will formally present its final report to the County Board at the next Committee of the Whole Meeting on Tuesday, November 14 at 6:30 P.M. in the Lyle Shields Meeting Room at the Brookens Administrative Center (1776 E. Washington St., Urbana, IL).
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The Champaign County Racial Justice Task Force was appointed by the County Board to address issues of racial disparity in the local criminal-justice system. The Task Force is composed of volunteer members from the community and has been meeting since February 2016. For more information, please contact Champaign County Government at (217) 384-3776.