New Report Says Illinois Prisons Are Nearly 40 Percent Over Capacity
A new report published by a national non-profit finds that Illinois prisons are holding about 17,000 more people than they were designed to house.
Effort To Eliminate Medical Co-Pay For Prison Inmates Fails
Illinois prison inmates will continue to pay $5 for medical and dental visits, after the legislature tried and failed to get rid of the fee last week.
Non-Profit Sues IDOC Over Censorship Of LGBTQ Publications
Earlier this month, the Uptown People’s Law Center and the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center filed a lawsuit on behalf of the Chicago chapter against the Illinois Department of Corrections director and the wardens of 11 state prisons, among other corrections staff.
Prison Volunteer Sues IDOC Over Cancellation Of Debate Class
A lawsuit was filed Tuesday against two Illinois Department of Corrections officials over the agency’s cancellation of a debate class for inmates at the Stateville Correctional Center.
Illinois Prison System Spent Less Than $300 On Books Last Year
Last year, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) spent $276 on books for its educational programming across 28 correctional facilities, according to data obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. In the early 2000s, however, the state prison system spent roughly $750,000 each year on books. The dramatic decrease in funding stands in contrast to research that shows educational programming for inmates can significantly impact recidivism rates. Prison librarians, academics and a former Illinois inmate all agree that prison libraries play an important role in that work.