FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:  Jason Gerwig
630-407-6022
March 23, 2009

JAIL STUDY RECOMMENDATIONS SAVING COUNTY MONEY 

DuPage County — Last week, members of the Judicial and Public Safety Committee received a presentation by the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office, and the County’s Probation Office, regarding recommendations proposed in a jail study conducted by MGT of America, Inc., last April. 

MGT was hired by the County Board to determine whether there was an imminent need to build additional capacity at the County jail.   After a thorough review of the County’s criminal justice system, MGT noted that a new jail was not necessary and that the County could undertake new initiatives that would both decrease the jail population and save the County money.

Michael McMahon, Chairman of the Judicial and Public Safety Committee, commended the Sheriff’s Office for enacting the study’s recommendations of double-bunking inmates and instituting alternative incarceration programs like SWAP, which is a supervised pre-trial release program. 

“I want to thank Sheriff John Zaruba and his Department taking the necessary steps to address our prison population and for instituting common-sense initiatives that protect our residents while saving them money,” said McMahon. 

DuPage County Board Chairman Robert J. Schillerstrom echoed McMahon’s appreciation and noted that the County’s new pre-trial program will help keep people out of jail by fighting recidivism through alternative programs and probation.

“Our new pretrial program will help reduce the inmate population at the jail by providing alternatives to incarceration,” said Schillerstorm.  

MGT of America has worked with more than 2,700 public sector agencies in 49 states, Puerto Rico and several foreign countries.  Their expertise provides clients with consulting services that assist in running more efficient and effective operations.  Today, their corrections and public safety practices are their largest and most successful practice area.