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Jailed inmates still waiting transfer to state prisons, which have half the population of a decade ago

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Illinois

Across Chicago and its surrounding counties, more than 1,000 inmates are packed in jails as they await transfer to state prisons due to an ongoing fight over COVID-19 safety protocols between state and local law enforcement agencies.

The backlog has far-reaching consequences, according to a review of internal meeting minutes, inmate logs and interviews with local and state officials by the Brown Institute for Media Innovation’s Documenting COVID-19 project. Those include:

• Inmates, including many awaiting transfers for nearly a year, spending a half-million days in Chicago-area jails when they were supposed to be in state prisons;
• Dangerous overcrowding and fights in those jails;
• Strained budgets, including tens of millions in costs to continue housing the inmates in Cook County and elsewhere.

The inmate backlog has also been exacerbated by the comparatively low vaccination rates among prison staff, which has made it harder to safely house inmates at the state’s penitentiaries due to strict COVID protocols that are still in place, officials say.

Just 41 percent of IDOC staff is vaccinated, compared to 69 percent of prisoners.

Sheesh.

* Jim Dey…

Because of a variety of early-release programs — some due to the pandemic, some not — the department’s population stood at 27,413 Wednesday, down from 28,529 in December 2019.

Indeed, the department’s steady population decline marks a sea change from past policies. In 2012, its inmate population hovered around 49,000, mostly men.

Former Gov. Bruce Rauner, who took office in 2015, embraced policies and legislation to reduce inmate population. Since then, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has advanced that cause.

As a result, Illinois’ inmate population is roughly half what it was 10 years ago, even as county jails continue to house inmates sentenced to state prison.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 11:37 am

Comments

On the prison reduction. I wonder how many early releases were on pot convictions. These would be good. If these early releases were something else, I think we need to look hard at the uptick on violent crimes we are experiencing.

Comment by Blue Dog Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 11:50 am
State prisons have resources that county prisons do not. The state is fully open and IDOC is shirking their responsibility. Frankly the courts need to step in here.

Comment by Chicagonk Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 11:51 am
the correctional system is a paramilitary organization. I know, union contracts, but why hasn’t there been a general order requiring all staff to be vaccinated? Geez, the university system is going to require all students to be vaccinated and IDOC isn’t requiring their staff to be? Unreal.

Comment by the Edge Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 12:16 pm
==I know, union contracts, but why hasn’t there been a general order requiring all staff to be vaccinated? ==

It would also be a good idea, and bring reassurance, for all state agencies and departments to require 100% staff vaccination in all agencies. Choice between the vaccine and your job.

Comment by EssentialStateEmployeeFromChatham Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 12:20 pm
Sounds like the state would have plenty of room for the felons caught carrying guns. Cook county SA does not seem to enforce that law.

Comment by DuPage Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 12:36 pm
Hey, DuPage County is here with a non sequitur about the boogeyman. How on-brand.

Comment by Watcher of the Skies Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 12:38 pm
= I wonder how many early releases were on pot convictions.=

On 01/01/18 of the adult prison population in Illinois, 262 of the 39,395 adult inmates were there for cannabis offenses. That’s .7 percent.

There were roughly double the amount of inmates imprisoned for the offense of retail theft- also known as shoplifting. I find these numbers fascinating.

Comment by Occasionally Moderated Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 1:23 pm
Chicagonk

The courts have stepped in. More than once.
Ruled in favor of IDOC.

Comment by Captain Ron Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 1:23 pm
The latest statistics from idoc are from December of 2020

107 of 29,224 adult inmates are in for cannabis offenses. .4 percent.

Comment by Occasionally Moderated Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 1:39 pm
== If these early releases were something else, I think we need to look hard at the uptick on violent crimes we are experiencing.==

The rise in violent crime is a nationwide phenomenon. The reduction in the prison population is Illinois-specific. All the available research shows no meaningful relationship between incarceration rates and the incidence of crime. Do you have some evidence to the contrary? Tribune editorials don’t count.

Comment by charles in charge Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 2:12 pm
Dupage,
Felons, even those without bad intent, carry guns because some neighborhoods have higher murder rates than others. In other words they carry to protect themselves and unless they actually use their weapon for an actual crime, I have no problem with it. The right to bear arms has been determined to have virtually no limits, so I see no reason why paroled felons cannot appeal for that right back too.

Comment by cermak_rd Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 2:33 pm
The decrease in IDOC’s population reflects the overall drop in crime over the past decade, a shift in sentencing practices in most (not just Cook) counties away from prison, and a shift in how drug-laws are enforced. Marijuana offenses never accounted for large numbers of IDOC admissions, and keep in mind that delivery of large amounts is still a crime if not licensed (which is what those in prison were usually convicted of). Finally, admissions to prison for gun possession are about the only crime that has seen an increase in admissions. From a soon to be released report, admissions to prison for gun possession increased 27% between 2014 and 2019, while admissions for all other crimes fell 38%.If you are convicted of this crime in Cook County you are more likely to be sentenced to prison than elsewhere in Illinois.

Comment by RamblerFan Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:07 pm
Can IDOC refuse to schedule someone for overtime if they are not vaccinated?

Comment by Hum Dinger Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 4:51 pm
“Can IDOC refuse to schedule someone for overtime if they are not vaccinated?”

Most facilities have to beg staff for to do OT as it is.

Comment by MrX Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 5:02 pm
The state should immediately mandate all IDOC front line employees get vaccinated.

Comment by Bob Meter Monday, Jun 28, 21 @ 5:26 pm