Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – The Sangamon County Board Tuesday night approved an agreement with Cook County that, on paper, looks like the county could be sending juvenile corrections inmates to Cook County.

The County, however, did just open back up its own juvenile facility, according to County Administrator Brian McFadden.

“We are working to get this individual back here at Sangamon County.  We actually met with the State’s Attorney to discuss that…it’s really a short-term thing.  It’s not a long-term solution,” said McFadden.

McFadden says the juvenile in question has been destructive and violent in other facilities, and at the moment, Cook County was the only location that would take him.

“This particular individual has been problematic,” at other counties’ facilities,” said McFadden.  “This is the only juvenile detention center in the state that will house him.  He’s been in other locations, and he has caused some significate issues at these other locations.”

The juvenile in question has allegedly caused damage and assaulted corrections officers in those other facilities, said McFadden, who believes the juvenile has been in Knox and Peoria Counties.

The Sangamon County Juvenile Detention Center closed in 2023 after a teen took a juvenile hostage, and was then shot and killed.  McFadden says juveniles have been gradually brought back to the center since its re-opening, though he says the facility is not yet fully-staffed.

The juvenile is expected to be back in Sangamon County in the next couple weeks.  In the meantime, Sangamon County is paying Cook County $520 a day to house the juvenile, and $100 to $150 an hour for any transportation.