Reforms are having an impact
Monday, Jul 27, 2015 - Posted by Rich Miller
* Illinois’ prison population is decreasing. Part of that is because of an early release program for good behavior. Part of it is upstream…
In 2009, for example, the [Department of Corrections] processed 27,400 inmates into the prison system. In the most recent fiscal year, statistics show that number has fallen to 19,600. […]
A review of statistics compiled by IDOC shows that in all but 21 of Illinois 102 counties — most of them smaller, more rural jurisdictions — the number of inmates heading to state correctional facilities has dropped.
In 2009, for example, Cook County sent 13,406 inmates into the system. In the most recent fiscal year, that number dropped to 10,268.
Similar decreases took place through the state, with McLean County’s numbers dropping from 462 inmates in 2009 to 274 in the most recent fiscal year.
Part of the reason for that is the state’s drug courts, which have reduced the number of people being sent to prison.
- Mama - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 10:58 am:
What year did those reforms take place?
- Formerly Known As... - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 10:58 am:
Gov Rauner’s reforms and the work of John Maki and others will only help things even more.
Kudos to all.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:00 am:
Interesting murders and shootings are going back up also. Correlation or causation.
- Austin Blvd - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:04 am:
Thanks Pat.
- Very Fed Up - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:04 am:
The cost of mandatory drug counseling for non-violent drug related crimes vs prison is staggering. Should be a no brainer for both sides to be able to work together on this.
- Lobo Y Olla - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:11 am:
“Cook County sent 13,406 inmates into the system. In the most recent fiscal year, that number dropped to 10,268.” Welcome news all around. That statistic also translates into smaller caseloads for the ASAs and PDs who are the backbone of the criminal justice system. In the last 8 years Cook has gone from 7 alternative sentencing/prosecution programs to 29. Although this shift has positive implications for the penal system (as outlined in the article), there is an additional benefit in that it really is really having a positive effect in the the courtroom as well. In my experience, this almost 25% reduction in DOC sentences allows more courtroom “facetime” between the attorneys responsible for prosecution & defense. More time allows for more detailed conferences allowing for more tailored sentences. I’ve seen a sea change in the last few years in the way the ASA’s handle cases in the suburbs. Really a much better experience at 26 than my predecessors in the previous generation had.
- Under Further Review - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:11 am:
Sometimes, it seems as if judges are extremely reluctant to incarcerate any defendants. There seems to be an awareness of jail/prison overcrowding and economic pressure caused by the cost of housing and caring for inmates. There are many offenders who are processed and returned to the streets.
- Federalist - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:36 am:
Is this good news or bad news? Further objective studies will be needed and trying to get such studies that do not have an ideological bent one way or the other is another story.
Why stick people in prison for lengthy terms when their offense is minimal to society? Why not incarcerate offenders for lengthy sentences who really are a danger to other human beings?
As to drugs it is obvious that small amounts of pot should not receive jail time. However, what constitutes small amounts for personal use only rather than a guise for selling. I do not know what the proper amount would be for such a distinction but surely it needs to be carefully defined.
Will our GA step up to the plate on these important issues?
- Frenchie Mendoza - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:36 am:
Rauner’s Reform Commission website:
http://www.icjia.org/cjreform2015
Good info here.
- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:59 am:
I have a few questions:
1. Does the 2009 “processed” number include all of the former inmates that were rearrested under the MGT Push program, which was suspended in 2009?
I think using the 2009 number is misleading.
2. Is Overcrowding of our prisons caused by low-level drug offenders or by Truth in Sentencing laws? Average length of stay of offenders has been growing in recent years.
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 12:17 pm:
==- Anonymous - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 11:00 am:==
Let’s get this straight, a reduction in the prison population six years ago leads to more murders today? Excuse me while I go clean up the drink I spit out.
- Bulldog58 - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 1:24 pm:
While this is certainly a step in the right direction and very welcome news we must remember that the system is so overcrowded that these number have no noticeable impact inside the prison system. It will take several more years of these kinds of numbers before there is any real change to the overcrowding. Overcrowding is still with us, under-staffing is still with us and the overtime associated with under-staffing is still with us.
But still, any good news is welcome news.
- Logic not emotion - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 2:49 pm:
I know a violent sex offender who raped his son’s girlfriend and plea bargained down to a misdemeanor. When the girl’s father wouldn’t tell them where she was hiding, the rapist’s sons beat the girl’s father up to the point where the he was hospitalized for several days. They pled down to misdemeanors too. Now all three of those bad men are out (actively) creating more victims.
Let’s not assume this reduction is all a good thing.
- just a taxpayer - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 2:51 pm:
Prison population is down….but shootings in that sanctuary city known as Chicago are up. Hummmmmm….. surely there is no correlation!
- DuPage Dave - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 6:44 pm:
This is real news. Sorry to see that the number of comments is so low.
Good for Rauner to do the sentencing reform. Good for Quinn to make some changes, although the “push” was very poorly carried out.
Good for the drug courts keeping people out of jail. They have worked all over the country and seem now to be having a big impact in Illinois.
This is a bi-partisan, national movement to reverse a decades-long trend. Glad to see that it is working in my own state.
- nona - Monday, Jul 27, 15 @ 7:04 pm:
It is good news and long overdue. Suffice it to say Rauner can’t claim all the credit, since he is a latecomer to the prison reform movement. Better late than never.