Amid political darkness, a bright spot in criminal justice reform
Amid political darkness, a bright spot in criminal justice reform
Pete Leonard has employed 35 ex-offenders since 2009 at Second Chance Coffee Company in Wheaton.
Illinois voters support sealing for nonviolent offenses
Illinois voters support sealing for nonviolent offenses
A majority of Illinois voters surveyed in a recent poll back record sealing for nonviolent offenders. Here’s how policymakers should make this happen.
Rauner signs bill limiting prison phone call costs
Rauner signs bill limiting prison phone call costs
New law reduces the rate for which Illinois’ adult and juvenile corrections facilities can contract for inmate telephone service.
New law reduces barriers to park district employment for ex-offenders
New law reduces barriers to park district employment for ex-offenders
Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed a bill allowing ex-offenders with certain drug convictions to apply for jobs with Illinois park districts within seven years of completing a prison sentence or probation.
Chicago Police Department cannot avoid requests for private emails under Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act
Chicago Police Department cannot avoid requests for private emails under Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act
According to a ruling from Illinois’ attorney general, government employees cannot conceal work-related communication on private email, despite the Chicago Police Department’s arguments for it.
Rauner signs bill to discourage incarceration for low-level offenders with no prior violent convictions
Rauner signs bill to discourage incarceration for low-level offenders with no prior violent convictions
Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed into law Senate Bill 3164, which requires a court to review a presentencing report and explain why incarceration is appropriate prior to imposing a prison sentence on a Class 3 or Class 4 felony offender with no prior violent convictions.
Rauner signs juvenile justice reforms into law
Rauner signs juvenile justice reforms into law
The governor signed two bills designed to improve outcomes for Illinois youth who become involved with the criminal justice system.
Rauner signs bill giving ex-offenders a shot at success
Rauner signs bill giving ex-offenders a shot at success
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s pen writes a storybook ending for a single mom from Decatur.
Rauner signs occupational licensing reform into law
Rauner signs occupational licensing reform into law
On Aug. 22, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed into law a bill that prevents the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation from using irrelevant criminal convictions as a basis for denying licenses to applicants seeking to work as barbers, cosmetologists, hair braiders, estheticians, nail technicians, roofing business owners or funeral directors.
Illinois voters from all political parties favor reducing state prison population
Illinois voters from all political parties favor reducing state prison population
A recent Illinois Policy Institute-commissioned poll finds 4 in 5 registered Illinois voters – including overwhelming majorities of Republicans, Independents and Democrats – support reforms to reduce the number of nonviolent offenders in prison.
Illinois voters support removing licensing restrictions for ex-offenders
Illinois voters support removing licensing restrictions for ex-offenders
A poll of Illinois registered voters finds 76 percent want to remove occupational licensing barriers for ex-offenders.
Majority of Illinoisans support criminal-justice reform
Majority of Illinoisans support criminal-justice reform
Majority of Illinoisans think the state’s criminal-justice system is unfair
Majority of Illinoisans think the state’s criminal-justice system is unfair
A new Illinois Policy Institute report discusses a recent poll showing broad concern about the fairness and effectiveness of Illinois’ criminal-justice system and strong support for reforms to improve it.
Economic freedom enables success after prison
Economic freedom enables success after prison
Eliminating barriers to opportunity would benefit both ex-offenders and the state of Illinois.