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Prison recidivism projected to cost Illinois more than $13 billion over next five years

Tuesday, Jul 24, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* From Line Rice at TMI…

Hey!

Wanted to share this awesome story with you.

The Chicago construction company behind the 95th Red Line terminal expansion, FH Paschen, is involved in the CRED (Create Real Economic Destiny) program, which gives ex-offenders stability (like housing and a job) after being incarcerated. FH Paschen works with CRED to provide meaningful career pathways to ex-offenders.

Michael Reed (I can get you his info) is a participant in the program and, after being in jail, now works full-time for Paschen and is putting his new skills to use on the 95th station project. He will not only get real construction experience, but also earn any related construction certificates/credentials that he needs to keep his career momentum going. The program is meant to give people an alternative to what they were used to, facing violence in the streets, by teaching them industry skills they need to take control of their own destiny in a positive way. Check out the attached sheet for more info and interview opportunities. This would make an awesome feature or profile.

Here’s a video you can use too that gives some more background on Michael: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wrw5R8LXDyI

Let me know how I can help!

* If you need a little lift today (and who doesn’t?) you should definitely watch this video…

I wish that young man nothing but the best.

* Why is this so important? Well, a few minutes after I received Linze’s e-mail, I got this one from the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council…

The attached report updates the Sentencing Policy Advisory Council’s (SPAC’s) 2015 High Cost of Recidivism report. Similar to regular updating of financial reports on economic activity or investments, this criminal justice update incorporates new trends and improved methodology to provide a more accurate and current picture of the high costs of recidivism in Illinois. The updated report describes the costs, how those costs accumulate over time, and how evidence-based policies and practices can help reduce recidivism such that the benefits outweigh the costs.

Key Findings:

* In 2016, more than 38,477 people were convicted of felonies and 33,074 were convicted of misdemeanors in Illinois.

* Only 11% of the 71,551 total convictions were of individuals with no prior arrests. Roughly 96% of the people admitted to prison eventually return to the community.

* Forty-three percent of those released from prison each year recidivate within three years of release and 17% will recidivate within one year of release.

* Thirty-five percent of those sentenced to probation for felony offenses each year recidivate within three years of sentencing, and 17% will recidivate within one year.

* Thirty-seven percent of those sentenced to probation for misdemeanor offenses each year recidivate within three years of sentencing, and 19% will recidivate within one year.

* The average cost associated with one recidivism event is $151,662. Given current recidivism trends, over the next 5 years recidivism will cost Illinois over $13 billion.

The report is here.

11 Comments

Some things just don’t add up

Tuesday, Jul 24, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* WGN TV…

Reached by phone, F. Scott Winslow, Wilson for Mayor campaign spokesman, told WGN News Sunday’s event was “absolutely not” a campaign event. Winslow says since Wilson launched his second bid for Chicago mayor, he’s probably given away $500,000.

Winslow insists the campaign is not violating any campaign finance laws since the campaign was not involved. He said he didn’t think any of the governor’s money was distributed in cash Sunday, but there was no way to know how much of the governor’s money was part of the hand out.

Once people contribute to Wilson’s foundation “all the money gets mixed together,” he said.

He also said there is a Chinese wall between the foundation and Wilson’s campaign. He said they bent over backwards Sunday to avoid any appearance of vote influencing, even removing political signs from nearby yards.

A Chinese wall? Check out the main media contact listed on the press release for the Wilson Foundation’s Sunday event…

Yep. None other than Wilson’s campaign manager himself. That wall has a very big hole.

* Dahleen Glanton in the Tribune…

The governor, who is facing a tough re-election campaign, knew that Wilson would be at that church on Sunday talking about tax relief. It’s unclear whether he knew the checks would be handed out, too.

At a news conference Monday, Rauner said he donated money for people who were vetted through the foundation. He said he had no idea that Wilson would be handing out cash.

“Just handing out cash randomly to people, I’ve never done that and I think it’s not a good thing to do,” Rauner told reporters. “It’s one thing if you’re just a person and you just want to walk around and throw money. I mean, it’s a free country. If you’re a candidate for office, it’s not a proper thing to do.”

Anyone who knows Wilson, though, knows that’s what he does. He gives on the spot and doesn’t spend a lot of time and energy interviewing the recipients. He takes people at their word that their financial horror stories are true.

That last paragraph is totally true. And it shoulda been crystal clear to Rauner that money would be handed out if anyone had bothered to read Wilson’s press release…

On Sunday, July 22nd at 10:00am, Wilson will give away $300,000 to assist struggling homeowners who are being threatened with losing their homes because of staggering property tax bills.

* Rauner didn’t know that cold, hard cash would be handed out? Seems a tiny bit difficult to believe after reading this Sun-Times story…

Wilson’s spokesman Scott Winslow said this isn’t the first time Rauner has attended an event in which Wilson has handed out cash and checks. Winslow said Wilson has been doing it for more than 20 years.

And a Wilson campaign ad called “Helping Others” is posted on Wilson’s campaign Facebook page featuring a video of Rauner crediting Wilson for being “generous.” The video was posted on June 19 and features a church banner which reads “God Reigns in 2018.” The campaign ad shows Wilson passing out money in a church.

Wilson’s campaign said it’s a “composite spot.”

“The portion where he is handing cash to a member of the church was a January 15 MLK event, before he had declared himself a candidate for mayor,” Winslow said.

“He’s a wonderful entrepreneur. He’s built his own business from scratch. He’s been very successful. And he’s very generous,” Rauner says in the ad while the camera shows Wilson handing out cash to a man in a church. “He’s taken his success and given back to the community, to help many families who need help.”

* You gotta watch that ad…

ALL IN FOR DR. WILLIE WILSON
Willie Wilson For Mayor
Helping Others !

Posted by Willie Wilson on Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Oof.

Very unfortunate editing.

* Related…

* There’s nothing subtle about Willie Wilson’s giveaway

39 Comments

Repubs hype coverage of new ad

Tuesday, Jul 24, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* The spot is 49 seconds, which is too long and too short to be a standard :30 or :60 TV ad. And it hasn’t yet shown up on Facebook. There are plenty of other platforms, however, so let’s take a look at it since our late friend Paul Green makes an appearance and the Tribune covered the ad…

Rauner’s out with a new ad that tries to tie Pritzker and powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan together as pushing for a tax increase.

The ad shows both men with the words: “Pritzker-Madigan. Higher taxes. More corruption. Want to raise your taxes.” It then plays various TV news coverage of Madigan as well as Pritzker, who is pushing for a graduated income tax that would levy higher tax rates as income rises.

Pritkzer, however, has refused to say what those tax rates should be—something that has given Rauner an opening to attack a change in the income tax as higher taxes on everyone. Even to impose a graduated income tax rate would require years, including a voter-endorsed change in the state constitution.

The end of the Rauner ad plays a clip of Pritzker at a campaign event saying, “You can hear what a theme for this campaign is going to be, right?”

* Here it is…

* The RGA was pleased as punch with the Trib’s coverage…

Chicago Tribune: J.B. Pritzker Still Won’t Say What His Tax Hike Rate Would Be

Despite criticism from editorial boards across Illinois over his refusal to detail the specifics of his “immediate increase” tax hike plan, J.B. Pritzker still won’t say how high he would raise taxes if elected.

The Chicago Tribune is again calling out the Illinois Democrat gubernatorial candidate, writing that “Pritkzer, however, has refused to say what those tax rates should be—something that has given Rauner an opening to attack a change in the income tax as higher taxes on everyone.”

As the heir to the Hyatt hotel fortune and an expert at using insider schemes to avoid paying his fair share in taxes, Pritzker simply does not appreciate what his tax hike would do to struggling families.

Hardworking Illinois families already having a difficult time paying their tax bills should be deeply concerned about Pritzker’s lack of honesty and candor about his tax increase proposals.

* And so was Team Rauner…

ICYMI: Morning Spin Covers Latest Rauner Campaign Ad

This morning, the Chicago Tribune’s Morning Spin covered the Rauner campaign’s latest ad, “Raise Taxes For Everybody.” The ad features a clip of Mike Madigan saying that taxes can go in “whatever direction you want to go” followed by news coverage of Pritzker’s plan to hike taxes on Illinois families.

Check out the coverage in Morning Spin:

17 Comments

REO? Really? Well, yeah, kinda

Tuesday, Jul 24, 2018 - Posted by Rich Miller

* My first thought when I saw this story was: Nobody ever went broke underestimating the taste of the American public…

They started as a University of Illinois garage band and reached the heights of arena rock. Now the members of REO Speedwagon have been voted the top musicians in Illinois history by participants in the Illinois Top 200 project, a part of the state’s bicentennial celebration.

REO Speedwagon was followed by Alison Krauss, the fiddler with an angelic voice and more Grammy wins than any other woman in history, and Nat King Cole, the beloved crooner and trailblazing African-American entertainer.

Cheap Trick, the Rockford band that’s now in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and jazz legend Miles Davis rounded out the top five.

“Perhaps nothing better represents the state’s cultural and geographic diversity than its many contributions to American music. The most remarkable thing about this list is how many people on it were major contributors to different styles of music: blues, jazz, rock, soul, country, you name it,” said Christian McWhirter, a Lincoln Presidential Library historian and music expert. “And it’s not just Chicago, either. These great acts come from all over the state.”

“Keep On Loving You,” “Can’t Fight This Feeling,” “Take It on the Run.”

Bleh. Not a big fan of hair-band arena rock.

* However, there is one track that redeems all of REO for me. “Golden Country”…

* Some lyrics…

Golden country your face is so red
With all of your money your poor can be fed
You strut around and you flirt with disaster
Never really carin’ just what comes after
Well your blacks are dyin’ but your back is still turned
And your freaks are cryin’ but your back is still turned
You better stop your hidin’ or your country will burn

The time has come for you my friend
To all this ugliness we must put an end
Before we leave we must make a stand

So, I guess I’m cool with this award.

67 Comments

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