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Health & Fitness

Reboletti Legislation Establishing Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Approved by House

SPRINGFIELD – Advancing a key aspect of the heroin legislative package sponsored by Rep. Dennis Reboletti (R-Elmhurst), the Illinois House has approved a measure that will allow the establishment of a Pilot Program to create a secure facility with on-site substance abuse treatment in DuPage County, Cook County, and a third location to be determined. The facilities will serve as a “last chance” option where individuals convicted of drug or property crimes would be allowed to serve their sentences in a treatment-intensive environment.

Rep. Reboletti, a former narcotics prosecutor, says drug addiction is a leading driver of criminal behavior and incarceration . “Frequently, severely addicted individuals will continue committing drug crimes and property offenses related to their addictions, often cycling in and out of prison without any improvement,” explains Reboletti. “This proposal looks to use evidence-based practices like risk assessment to identify severely addicted persons who are at a high risk to reoffend, and to treat their addictions in a secured environment.”

Under the legislation, only persons convicted of simple drug possession and non-violent property crimes will be eligible for the program. The court would first enter a recommendation for the program, after which the DOC would determine the person’s eligibility following a full analysis.

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If the approach shows success, Reboletti says it could be expanded to other areas of the state. “The rapid rise of heroin use and addiction poses a deadly threat across Illinois. The ultimate goal of these facilities is to reduce recidivism by focusing on treating addiction.”

House Bill 5766, approved by a vote of 81-20 on Thursday, April 10, now advances to the State Senate for consideration. 

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