Joliet Officials Attempting To Shut Down Sex Offender Housing Unit

JOLIET, IL — Joliet city officials on Tuesday announced that they will attempt to eliminate housing for sex offenders in an attempt to minimize the presence of those convicted of sex crimes.

Officials announced their formal opposition to the housing for sex offenders that is located at 1000 Cora Street that is home to five registered sex offenders.

Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk said that he has reached out to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office in seeking assistance with closing the sex offender housing down.

“It is absurd that anyone at any level of government would think (sex offender housing) is a good idea,” O’Dekirk said in a statement issued on Tuesday. “The City’s Legal Department has been instructed to take all appropriate action to shut this down. I believe placing five sex offenders at one location in any city poses an imminent threat to the people inside that neighborhood.”

City officials said last week that there are no plans to take drastic action against NewDay, a company that expands sex offender housing across Illinois.

The announcement came after Patch exclusively reported that the city’s Cunningham neighborhood has five out-of-town sex offenders living at the residence on Cora Street.

City Manager Jim Capparelli told Patch last week that he also just found about the NewDay sex offender apartment building at 1000 Cora St. in recent weeks. The company bought the gray apartment building in December, according to Will County property records.

Capparelli said it's his understanding that NewDay only has the one residential housing property in Joliet at the moment. He does not believe Joliet can shut down the sex offender apartment building. The place appears to be complying with all applicable laws, Capparelli said.

Now, the city manager says he will work to find a solution to the problem along with the mayor.

“This goes to the heart of the matter that Joliet has become a dumping ground for Will County communities,” Capparelli said in a statement issued on Tuesday. “This has got to stop, and I will be seeking a moratorium on the expansion of existing social services housing located in Joliet.”

Patch editor John Ferak contributed reporting to this story.