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Today’s must-read

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* An old pal sent me a link to a Tribune story with this note…

I was hoping that you would give this story and report some good play on the blog. This is two years in the making with a ton of important stakeholders involved who had put together a proposal to reduce the women’s prison population in Illinois by half.

* The story is about a new task force report…

Convened by the Women’s Justice Institute, the task force issued a report that includes 250 recommendations, ranging from eliminating prison charges for basic needs, like email access and tampons, to mass commutations for women where a history of gender-based violence was not initially considered by the court system. […]

Nearly all women who enter Illinois prisons report having suffered from physical or sexual violence. Most are admitted for low-level, nonviolent drug or property crimes. A recent survey in the Cook County Jail showed that 54% of women reported being homeless in the 30 days prior to being detained. A separate survey of 800 women in Illinois prisons found that 40% were unable to pay rent in the year prior to their incarceration, with some sleeping in their cars. […]

“Women are not safe,” said Benford, who works as an organizer for Live Free Illinois, part of a national organization that works to reduce violence in Black communities and also runs a support group for formally incarcerated women. “Women are not safe. They are not safe inside of (the Illinois Department of Corrections). There has to be something else done.”

The answers are outlined in the report largely according to five policy areas, all of which have specific recommendations: relationship safety, housing, economic security, family support and health.

Researchers from Loyola University Chicago’s Center for Criminal Justice Research, Policy, and Practice worked with task force members to create a detailed breakdown of how many women would be freed today under suggested, specific changes to sentencing laws and classifications.

The report is here if you get some time. I’ve reached out to IDOC for comment.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 1:47 pm

Comments

Went to the report and clicked on the Video.
Wow.
The facts in the report were real eye openers.
Thanks for the post.

Comment by Back to the Future Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 2:08 pm
Thanks for the post. Truly horrified by some of the stories included in the report.

Comment by Peanut Gallery Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 2:24 pm
Then the governor should use his constitutional clemency powers. No legislation needed. Stroke of a pen.

Comment by G Falkes Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 2:44 pm
== Then the governor should use his constitutional clemency powers. No legislation needed. Stroke of a pen.==

Have you read the report? It talks about problems at all stages of the criminal legal system, and recommends solutions, many of which will require legislation, not the mere “stroke of a pen.”

Comment by charles in charge Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 3:36 pm
This is groundbreaking. Deserves a long look by all in Springfield and some action.

Comment by Shytown Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 3:38 pm
In 50 years, we will look back on the past 30 years or so and wonder why we policed and in prisoned people the way do right now.

Major reforms are needed. This report should begin to change things.

Comment by Cool Papa Bell Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 4:12 pm
Major reforms are needed in educating the police force, the courts, etc.. I am hoping this report will begin to change the old way of doing things.

Major reforms are needed for men in prison too. Some of them also suffer from physical or sexual violence inside the prisons.

Those with drug charges should be in a drug treatment program plus an NA and AA programs while they are incarnated.

Comment by Mama Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 4:25 pm
This is such important work. Thank you for highlighting this

Comment by Phineas Gurley Wednesday, Apr 28, 21 @ 9:01 pm