Investigation uncovers disturbing conditions in Illinois county jails
An investigative series produced by the Illinois Answers Project found many cases of unreported homicides, suicides, and fights in Illinois county jails. Kailey Ryan
When something goes wrong in one of Illinois’ 90 county jails, staff are supposed to report those “extraordinary or unusual occurrences” to the Illinois Department of Corrections. The Winnebago County jail reported more than 140 fights among detainees over the past several years. The Rock Island County jail recorded more than 100 cases where restraints were used on people there. And Sangamon County Jail in Springfield had the second highest rate of incidents of all the state’s counties with a jail.
Those reports also include homicides and suicides. However, many of those events go unreported and even when they are reported, it’s rare for the state to investigate further. Beyond that, much of this happens in facilities that fail inspections. For more than four years, the investigative newsroom known as the Illinois Answers Project has been looking into all of this … conducting interviews and going through tens of thousands of pages of government documents. Last week, the news outlet published several stories, plus a comprehensive statewide database with its findings.
Two of the journalists who worked on the project join the program.
GUESTS
Grace Hauck
Investigative Reporter, Illinois Answers
Andrew Adams
Data and Interactives Journalist, Illinois Answers
