Organization aims to assist formerly incarcerated individuals as they battle stigma, other challenges
Shayla Woodworth, left, and Toy Beasley. They are members of Fully Free BloNo, an offshoot of the Chicago-based Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments, or EndPP. Beasley, an organizer with EndPP, also is working to launch Fully Free chapters in Peoria and several other Central Illinois cities. Michele Steinbacher / WGLT
Nearly 29,000 people are currently incarcerated in Illinois' prison system. But being imprisoned -- or even just getting arrested -- can follow someone for decades after the experience is over.
That can cause problems when formerly incarcerated people look for jobs or even for housing. There've been efforts to change this in the General Assembly through legislation that would seal nonviolent criminal records, making them inaccessible to the general public.
That bill stalled in the latest legislative session, but advocates for formerly incarcerated people across the state are still working to lessen the stigma these inidivuals can face. Fully Free Blo-No, a recently-launched organization in Blooming-Normal, is part of that effort and three of its members join the program today.
GUESTS
Toy Beasley
Regional Coordinator, Illinois Coalition to End Permanent Punishments
Shayla Woodworth
Member, Fully Free Blo-No
Candice Byrd
Member, Fully Free Blo-No
Hosted by Christine Herman
