Officials, employees push to keep Illinois Youth Center-Joliet open

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The CommissiGovernment Forecasting Accountability hold public hearing proposed closure Illinois Youth Center Renaissance Center Joliet Illinois Wednesday April 4 2012.

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability hold a public hearing on the proposed closure of the Illinois Youth Center at the Renaissance Center in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, April 4, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

The CommissiGovernment Forecasting Accountability co-chair Representative PatriciBellock Senator Matt Murphy talk before public hearing proposed closure Illinois Youth Center Renaissance

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability co-chair Representative Patricia Bellock and Senator Matt Murphy talk before a public hearing on the proposed closure of Illinois Youth Center at the Renaissance Center in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, April 4, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Illinois Youth Center employees cheer support they receive from local officials during CommissiGovernment Forecasting Accountability public hearing proposed closure Illinois

Illinois Youth Center employees cheer the support they receive from local officials during the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability public hearing on the proposed closure of the Illinois Youth Center at the Renaissance Center in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, April 4, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

The CommissiGovernment Forecasting Accountability co-chair representative PatriciBellock state Sen. Matt Murphy listen statements during public hearing proposed closure Illinois Youth

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability co-chair representative Patricia Bellock and state Sen. Matt Murphy listen to statements during a public hearing on the proposed closure of the Illinois Youth Center at the Renaissance Center in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, April 4, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Arthur Bishop director Illinois Department Juvenile Justice other Illinois executive branch officials listen questions from CommissiGovernment Forecasting Accountability during public

Arthur Bishop, director of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, and other Illinois executive branch officials listen to questions from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability during a public hearing on the proposed closure of the Illinois Youth Center at the Renaissance Center in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, April 4, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

State Reps. Raymond Poe Renee Kosel CommissiGovernment Forecasting Accountability public hearing proposed closure Illinois Youth Center Renaissance Center Joliet Illinois

State Reps. Raymond Poe and Renee Kosel at the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability public hearing on the proposed closure of the Illinois Youth Center at the Renaissance Center in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, April 4, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Arthur Bishop Director Illinois Department Juvenile Justice answers questions from CommissiGovernment Forecasting Accountability during public hearing proposed closure Illinois Youth

Arthur Bishop, Director Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice, answers questions from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability during a public hearing on the proposed closure of Illinois Youth Center at the Renaissance Center in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, April 4, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Senator Matt Murphy poses questions State Illinois Executive Branch Officials during CommissiGovernment Forecasting Accountability public hearing proposed closure Illinois Youth

Senator Matt Murphy poses questions to the State of Illinois Executive Branch Officials during the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability public hearing on the proposed closure of Illinois Youth Center at the Renaissance Center in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, April 4, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

The CommissiGovernment Forecasting Accountability (left) meets with state Illinois executive branch officials during public hearing proposed closure Illinois Youth Center

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (left) meets with state of Illinois executive branch officials during a public hearing on the proposed closure of the Illinois Youth Center at the Renaissance Center in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, April 4, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Local elected officials including state Rep. Emily McAsey speak CommissiGovernment Forecasting Accountability during public hearing proposed closure Illinois Youth Center

Local elected officials including state Rep. Emily McAsey speak to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability during a public hearing on the proposed closure of the Illinois Youth Center at the Renaissance Center in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, April 4, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

The CommissiGovernment Forecasting Accountability co-chair representative PatriciBellock state Rep. Raymond Poe state Sen. Matt Murphy during public hearing proposed closure

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability co-chair representative Patricia Bellock, state Rep. Raymond Poe and state Sen. Matt Murphy during a public hearing on the proposed closure of the Illinois Youth Center at the Renaissance Center in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, April 4, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

The CommissiGovernment Forecasting Accountability (right) meets with state Illinois executive branch officials during public hearing proposed closure Illinois Youth Center

The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (right) meets with state of Illinois executive branch officials during a public hearing on the proposed closure of the Illinois Youth Center at the Renaissance Center in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, April 4, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Juvenile justice specialist Rosemary Bridges shakes her head as she listens Illinois executive branch officials speak CommissiGovernment Forecasting Accountability during

Juvenile justice specialist Rosemary Bridges shakes her head as she listens to Illinois executive branch officials speak to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability during a public hearing on the proposed closure of the Illinois Youth Center at the Renaissance Center in Joliet, Illinois, Wednesday, April 4, 2012. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

Will County State's Attorney Jim Glasgow. FILE PHOTO. | Joseph P. Meier~Sun-Times Media

JOLIET — Local officials and dozens of Illinois Youth Center-Joliet employees lobbied hard during a hearing Wednesday to save the 52-year-old juvenile prison on the city’s West Side. “We will not give up,” Will County Executive Larry Walsh proclaimed loudly to cheers from the crowd. …