A transgender woman serving a 10-year sentence in Illinois for burglary has been moved from a men's to a women's prison in what is a rare accommodation by state prison authorities, her lawyers announced Thursday.

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.

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.

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. 

Governor Bruce Rauner will use his State of the State address Wednesday to present a deal for pension relief and highlight efforts to reduce Illinois' prison population, according to documents obtained by Illinois Public Radio.