Discussing St. Leonard's

Keeping people on the fringe of society for fear that they will err again more often than not will guarantee they do exactly that.

12/23/2009 10:00 PM

AMY SUE MERTENS

18 Comments - Add Your Comment


St. Leonard’s Ministries

If you haven’t visited Chicago Journal’s Web site to follow this paper’s coverage of St. Leonard’s Ministries (SLM), you’ve missed an important community conversation.

More than 40 comments have been posted to the Journal’s recent article about a parolee to St. Leonard’s named Julius Anderson, who has a record of rape and armed robbery convictions. He left the St. Leonard’s property this summer and allegedly committed two more sexual crimes before being captured.

Though some who have commented on the story resorted to unproductive sniping and name calling, the dialogue, I think, has been a good one, highlighting important questions about ex-offender re-entry programs, sex offender monitoring and neighborhood safety.

I like what “Concerned from Near West Side” wrote on Dec. 11:

“Please don’t blame SLM for Anderson’s actions. Just as you all make your own choices, Mr. Anderson made his own choices. SLM helps people become individuals who will not make the choices that Mr. Anderson made. If you take time to speak with many of the SLM residents you will learn of the positive changes many have made to become productive members of society. The goal of SLM is to limit the number of repeat offenders as much as possible. If individuals choose otherwise, that is no fault of SLM.”

There is no panacea to solving the complex issues of ex-offenders returning home, and I am not excusing them of the serious mistakes they made.

But keeping people on the fringe of society for fear that they will err again more often than not will guarantee they do exactly that.

Eight years ago, I was working at Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities, a statewide direct service and policy organization focused on ex-offenders with drug-use issues.

I came away with tremendous respect for case managers working with this population and for the people going through the TASC program. Clients were often products of broken homes and were introduced — sometimes by their parents — to drug use early in life.

When ex-offenders were released from jail, they were told not to go back to the neighborhood where they got in trouble. But that was also likely the only neighborhood they knew. A bus dropped them off under a viaduct or near a depot, and they had 72 hours to find a place to live, report to TASC and to their parole officer. I often wondered, “And then what?”

Later, when I worked at Housing Opportunities for Women, I learned that the answer for many ex-offenders is homelessness, as they find themselves without resources and assistance.

In contrast, for the ex-offenders who are fortunate to have the chance, SLM is the answer, providing training and housing. Through this approach, the organization achieves a recidivism rate below 20 percent, according to the SLM Web site, well below the statewide average.

The group is planning to expand. SLM is working with foundations and other social service organizations to add living quarters for women and a retail café on the first floor of the Viceroy Hotel property at Ashland and Warren, at the south end of Union Park. The cafe will be staffed by participants going through one of its job training programs.

Over the years the Viceroy has been, to put it politely, a place of ill repute. The new social service building, with St. Leonard’s included, is thus a welcome addition to the informal border area between the West Loop and the Near West Side.

I think St. Leonard’s is capable of expanding its operations and the plans to do so deserve community support.

There is already an element of not-in-my-backyardism at play in some of the online discussions I referenced. I don’t have patience for it, just as I don’t for those who want to halt development over the loss of their skyline view. The conversation should be about so much more than that.

I hope we’ll continue the good discussion Chicago Journal has fostered online. These are complex issues and they deserve a full range of comments and reactions.


18 Comments - Add Your Comment



By Anonymous from West Loop
Posted: 01/01/2010 8:43 AM

Great thanks to the one pioneer in West Haven who brought this issue to the attention of so many, got folks together and advocated so passionately on the side of common sense. I know you want no publicity, so no name is mentioned.


By chris from west side
Posted: 12/30/2009 9:25 PM

Amy, "Alleged "is not th.e proper term. I am sure you read the papers, let me inform you that Julius was caught by modern technology tracing the cell phone of one victim. He was also caught wearing the jacket of a victim, let's not make a criminal sound like an Angel. I love how you and SL downplay the severity of a rapists offenses. I am sure if u could speak w the victims, u might have a different outlook. They r the children in this case


By chris from west side
Posted: 12/30/2009 9:13 PM

this behavior. the neighbors will not tolerate someone who doesn t live here, talk foolishly, considering she lives in the West Loop. Something tells me that u have never walked to westside. I am willing to bet once the Viceroy opens, chances are u won t be strolling west on ashland. So les be honest with ourselves here..


By chris from west side from west side
Posted: 12/30/2009 9:06 PM

For those interested, there will be a CPS board meeting on Jan 27, this will be a good time to let them know about the issues that plague the area schools. details to follow. Also, Amy, since you seem to b on top of your game, did it occur to you, that this beautiful picture you posted of St. Leonards signage is against the liscensing requirements. Nowhere on here does it state that it is a correctional facility. which is reason for revokation! Do your research before saying you won't tolerat


By Mark from Loop
Posted: 12/30/2009 2:45 PM

I did not know all of those other elementary schools mentioned by Chris were in such close proximity to St. Leonard's. Where does the Chicago Public School Board stand in all this? How about the Teacher's Union? The various PTA's?


By Chris from West Haven
Posted: 12/30/2009 7:22 AM

So much of the discussion has been about the fact Suder is so close to SL. But how about Herbert Elementary? And St. Malachy? And Nia Middle? And Foundations Elementary? All within a 3 block radius in an area with a huge concentration of recently released felons in transition. Expansion? STOP THE LUNACY!


By Larry from West Loop
Posted: 12/29/2009 6:51 AM

Yeah, let's bring some more rapists, burglars, carjackers, drug dealers, domestic batterers and armed robbers into the neighborhood. Didn't know there was a grammar school so close. Expansion? In that area? Uh, I don't think so.


By Mark from Loop
Posted: 12/28/2009 3:18 PM

Development of the Viceroy sounds like a fine idea as long as priority is given to security of the neighborhood and oversight of the women being housed there. Expansion of main SLM facility by purchasing city lots so near Suder Montessori School: terrible idea. Why run the risk of putting children in possible jeopardy?


By Karen from West Haven
Posted: 12/28/2009 12:32 PM

Dear Amy, You say SL is capable of expanding and the plans to do so deserve community support. Well the community is entitled to have the laws enforced to protect their safety. Title 20 Section 800.40 says no transitional facility w/in 500 feet of school for kids under 18. Suder is closer than that.What about IDOC signage under 730ILCS 5/3-17-5(b)5?It's not there. Or annual notice to neighbors as mandated? There's been none.Neighbors were protesting purchase of 2 lots CLOSER to Suder.Not Viceroy


By Anonymous from Near West Side
Posted: 12/28/2009 9:45 AM

You are missing one key note. We are in support of the services provided by SLM, but we are asking that it not be so heavily concentrated in one part of the city, which just so happens to be our neighborhood. This is not your backyard, so quit with your pouting, "I don't have patience for it." Btw, I liked how you quoted yourself, "Please don't blame SLM for Anderson's actions, etc." You live in Greek Town for heaven's sake! You may want to put more thought before publishing a slanted article.


By Concerned Neighbor from West Town from West Town
Posted: 12/27/2009 11:54 PM

Amy Sue, in your words: "Later, when I worked at Housing Opportunities for Women, I learned that the answer for many ex-offenders is homelessness, as they find themselves without resources and assistance" What is Julius Anderson's reason for raping TWO WOMEN after he got this "second chance"? He had shelter, food, and no GPS monitoring!


By Concerned Neighbor from West Town from WEst Town
Posted: 12/27/2009 11:38 PM

In addition to the residents of SLH harassing women on the street, drug dealing & drinking booze in the middle of day at corner liquor stores, does anyone acknowledge all the area break-ins and minor vandlism in our neighborhood, in vicinity of the SLH premises? What about all those men at Walgreens parking lots asking for money and selling stolen goods in public view? Can anyone make those connections? Where is the police, where is the City, State, IDOC in all this mess? HOW MANY MORE VICTIMS?


By Concerned Neighbor from West Town from West Town
Posted: 12/27/2009 11:32 PM

Let it be known: Julius Anderson incurred 99 infractions for offenses, including hitting a correctional officer in the face, stabbing an inmate, grabbing a female medical technician by the collar and starting a fire between cell doors. And this is who Bob Dougherty, SLH Director, chose as our neighbor?? I would prefer if SLH shut down, but in the meantime, they need the strictest monitoring and SECURITY on their facility as well as SIGNAGE that SLH is a halfway house, as required by the state!!


By Concrned Neighbor From West Town from West Town
Posted: 12/27/2009 11:26 PM

We feel horrible for the two Lincoln Park rape victims of Julius Anderson who resided at SLH after serving thirty years in prison. I must note that IL Atty General Lisa Madigan & State Atty Anita Alvarez faught to keep him out of society as they believed he was not rehabilitated, but was still a rather violent man. HOW MANY MORE VICTIMS HAVE TO PAY THE PRICE FOR SLH NEGLIGENCE AND ENDANGERMENT ??? WHAT DO WE HAVE TO DO TO GET SLH's LICENSE IS CANCELED BY THE CITY/STATE?


By Concerned Neighbor From West Town from West Town
Posted: 12/27/2009 11:12 PM

St. Leonard's has been a terrible neighbor in our community who has been negligent to keep its residents in line. The men who live at this facility hang out at neighborhood corner stores selling/using drugs, harass women as they walk their kids to/from school & even harass homeowners for "lose change" as they enter their own home! SLH's extreme negligence in monitoring its residents is now a public safety hazard. REVOKE SLH's LICENSE BEFORE THERE ARE ANY MORE VICTIMS!


By john from the west side from west side
Posted: 12/25/2009 3:59 PM

caught, I am not saying they are not doing a good job. but unless you, Amy live close to one of these fascilities and never see kids playing, woman gardening or walking the neighborhood you won t understand it. I am not sure you know what the people there feel having to look in all directions because of the foot traffic of ex offenders going to Michael Barlow, So the taxpaying citizens are simply asking for better safety and prevention


By john from the west side from wes side
Posted: 12/25/2009 3:54 PM

proper safety measures taken, how many unnessary rapes, murders need to happen to make places like SL obey the rules? like 1. Notifying neighbors w in 500 ft when a dangerous criminal comes in. May I remind you if they end up at SL it is because they r not fit to go into their own family homes, what makes it ok to affect other families2. when an ex felon strolls out, notify police and the community. Please do not believe everything you see, the 20% recidivism is based on felons that are


By john from the west side from west side
Posted: 12/25/2009 3:47 PM

Amy, I would like o inform you of a few important issues. Everyone that works at SL collects a salary. they choose to work w ex convicts. SL also receives close to $4 million a year in charity donations, could they not have found it in their budget to purchase the proper GPS for community safety when taking in the Julius Andersons? he is not the first nor the last to stroll out while on parole and commit horrific crimes, so you need to understand that the community is outraged and wants the