Stateville Correctional Center personnel pull carts of hand sanitizer and bars of soap on April 24, 2020. Staffers are expected to be prioritized with those in the health care field and other first responders. Recently, Governor Pritzker announced that all staff working in Illinois prisons will have to be vaccinated for COVID-19 by mid-October. But a coalition of advocacy groups that sued the state over the issue said the IDOC should free thousands more who are either old, infirm, nonviolent or near the end of their sentences. As COVID-19 vaccination distribution has expanded across the country, incarcerated people remain one of the populations that is both most vulnerable to COVID-19 and most distrustful of medical care, according to several legal advocacy organizations. Like other Chicagoans, we have ideas about what the next mayor should do. Heres some of whats on our to-do list. Help me. That plea, as a mother, is rough to hear.. A federal judge Friday blocked a bid by state prisoners for an accelerated release or transfer amid the coronavirus, finding state officials current processes dont violate their constitutional rights. ESSENTIALLY, ONLY INFORMATION ON PRISONERS RELEASED IN THE 1970'S IS AVAILABLE IN ANY DETAIL. To try to hinder the pandemics spread, IDOC brought in about 30 members of the Illinois National Guard to assist with routine health screenings and other duties at Stateville. If you are a member of the press, please contact our Director of Communications, Megan Groves, at megan@uplcchicago.org. Months later, Stateville continues to see a steady flow of new cases but has not reported a COVID-19 fatality since mid-August, according to state data through Dec. 21. People In Jails, Prisons Will Be Vaccinated In Next Phase, State Confirms After Advocates Push, Jail, Prison Populations Must be Among First to Get COVID-19 Vaccine: Advocacy Groups, COVID-19 cases and deaths are surging again in Illinois prisons, as inmates and advocates call for more action, Prioritizing Vaccines for Prisoners is Good Public Policy, Illinois to expand testing of prison workers as inmate deaths, infections surge, Forgotten: Stateville inmates warn of rising COVID-19 outbreak behind bars, Lawsuit: Illinois Prisons Are Failing To Protect Inmates From COVID-19, Lawsuit: Pritzker, IDOC Failed to Protect Vulnerable Inmates from COVID-19. That is the highest figure ever. He just wanted to die with dignity outside of prison, at home with his family.. LockA locked padlock WebPRISON-RELEASE DISCRETION AND PRISON POPULATION SIZE STATE REPORT: ILLINOIS 4 general population, for an average incremental downturn of -51 per 100,000.4 The pandemic hit Illinois prison system hard last spring, with cases mushrooming and fatalities reported at more than a dozen facilities before cases leveled off late in the year. J.B. Pritzker could help the effort with the stroke of a pen. WebActions to Reduce Population and Maximize Space. She urged her colleagues to find a compromise that gets to what our children in the classroom need.. Many inmates, relatives and recently freed men interviewed by the Tribune agreed that access to masks and cleaning supplies has improved since earlier this year, when there was a national shortage. xWn6+f"E^,"zhzXYE6I~T8B=BSg73tOG##LXEO}n 1mRaIm2%.yM 7{j ! 8zvv|i(8 F+A17qnR=!ZupvWTu]=$n#noOzN"D,?DoW8}'^\ UPLC is tracking COVID-19 cases in IDOC. On April 22, 2020, Chicago area civil rights groups came together to write a letter of support for the actions of Illinois Governor Pritzker. Already approved by the state Senate, it will go before voters, appearing on Illinois ballot in 2022. Angelo Ciaravino and Richard Zoller both have a way of getting their Mount Carmel teammates and the crowd fired up. So Why Have Only 27% Of Workers Taken The Vaccine? The IDOC denied a Tribune open-records request for information about Bourbons death, citing confidentiality exemptions. The House-passed bill, HR 5682, establishes a new program of time credits (sec. But more than 30% of those still locked up have a projected mandatory supervised release date before Jan. 1, 2022, meaning they are due to be set free in a year or less anyway, state data shows. Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP. Also this month, for those prisons where infections are soaring, both workers and inmates are being tested every three days until no new cases are identified for two weeks. Pritzker Joins Reproductive Freedom Alliance. Earlier this month, the state began regularly testing all prison employees whether or not they have symptoms. Rosario Ibarra, Mexicos champion of the disappeared, has died at 95, Cook County judge refused to speak with police investigating another judge, Lightfoot is out, Vallas and Johnson are in the April runoff, Chicago police officer dies after exchanging gunfire at close range with suspect in Gage Park, Analysis: How Lightfoot went from political rock star to rock bottom, Patrick Kane leaves Chicago with clear legacy: Blackhawks greatest player of all time, Mayor Lori Lightfoot was in a fight she couldnt have won, Northwestern falls to Penn State in OT for third consecutive loss, Bulls nearly blow 21-point lead but survive against Pistons, Defensive whiz Richard Zoller, high-flying Angelo Ciaravino help Mount Carmel take down Hyde Park. This legislation gives the PRB the authority to grant or deny a prisoner early release based on their medical incapacity or terminal illness. A USER'S GUIDE TO THE COLLECTION, MAINTENANCE, AND AVAILABILITY OF ADULT PAROLE AND SUPERVISED RELEASE DATA FOR ILLINOIS INMATES IS PRESENTED. (WBEZ has agreed to not identify the prisoner by his real name. Jan. 13, 2022 WASHINGTON Thousands of federal inmates will become eligible for release this week under a rule the Justice Department published on Thursday "Obviously this is training that we wish would have been done a year ago, but at least they're doing it now," she said. The latest IDOC data shows 82 prison staff and 45 prisoners are currently positive for COVID-19, and a total of 4,177 staff and 10,768 prisoners have tested To donate to our work fighting the spread of coronavirus in Illinois' prisons, click here. About 400 staff and 1,700 inmates are considered current cases. To see charts broken down by prison. Savage, a contract employee, had planned to retire in March but died on Nov. 6. While this legislation is applicable to all who are currently incarcerated in Illinois, crime victims have the right to submit a victim statement to the PRB for consideration at a medical release hearing. The increased testing in recent weeks helped drive the most recent jump in positive case numbers, Jeffreys said. by Wendy Sawyer , January 11, 2022 The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) has released a lot of new data over the past few weeks that help us finally see both The settlement reached Tuesday called for the release of low- to medium-risk inmates who are within nine months of their release date and are eligible for certain good-time credits, court records show. ,0(|GfVMJx'#Kf8Z%jZNtFc+ZT\;SUF-}T&v`)B?>7|'e=6/;_u$dNJ.U*n+Nykp$^+ On April 2, 2020, in response to the swiftly spreading coronavirus epidemic in Illinois' prisons, a consortium of the area's leading civil rights attorneys and community advocates filed three cases seeking release of prisoners. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. As efforts continue to slow the spread of COVID-19 at Cook County Jail by reducing the inmate population, Gov. A bill that would create an elected school board in Chicago advanced out of a Senate committee Wednesday on an 11 to 6 vote, clearing the way for that legislation to pass through the full chamber. People in Prison in Winter 2021-22 Vera Institute of Justice, February, 2022 All states and the federal prison system reduced their prison populations in 2020, but 19 states and the federal government increased the number of people incarcerated in prisons in 2021. COVID looks like it may stay. Early in the pandemic, Pritzker signed an executive order that temporarily stopped the transfers, but they resumed in early August after the Illinois Sheriffs Association filed a lawsuit challenging the order. More than 1,000 Illinois prisoners to be released under COVID-19 lawsuit settlement, Civil rights attorneys launch legal challenge to free prisoners at risk of coronavirus, Aiming to predict COVID, future pandemics better, CDC opens infectious diseases forecasting center, Unmasked transit: Pritzker ends mask mandates in public transportation, airports, US mask mandate for planes, other travel voided by federal judge in Florida, Rising COVID-19 cases prompt warnings for Illinoisans to remain vigilant and remain up to date on vaccine shots, Dr. Ngozi Ezike to become CEO of Sinai Chicago hospital system, With COVID-19 cases rising, Pritzker still searching for public health chief to succeed Ezike, a hero during this pandemic, Lightfoot is out, Vallas and Johnson are in the April runoff, Chicago police officer dies after exchanging gunfire at close range with suspect in Gage Park, Analysis: How Lightfoot went from political rock star to rock bottom, Patrick Kane leaves Chicago with clear legacy: Blackhawks greatest player of all time, Mayor Lori Lightfoot was in a fight she couldnt have won, Northwestern falls to Penn State in OT for third consecutive loss, Bulls nearly blow 21-point lead but survive against Pistons, Defensive whiz Richard Zoller, high-flying Angelo Ciaravino help Mount Carmel take down Hyde Park. The application of credits is expected to begin within the next 30 days, the court document states. The move was criticized by some advocates of prisoners rights because of its deteriorated state, but state officials said repairs were made and public health officials inspected it. The standoff between Chicago police and Mayor Lori Lightfoot over the citys COVID-19 vaccine mandate once again hoisted Chicago onto the national stage, seemingly pitting the individual rights of law enforcement officers against the health of communities theyre charged with protecting. In response, the states lawyers said pilot programs were underway, but broadening testing at dozens of facilities was no easy charge and more time was needed to evaluate effectiveness. J.B. Pritzker and IDOC had dragged their feet on identifying vulnerable prisoners eligible for early release, putting detainees, prison staff and the public at greater risk of severe illness and death. Prisons in Illinois, nationally face staff shortages as correction officers quit amid COVID. In his 48-page opinion last year, Dow acknowledged the seriousness of the situation but said that Pritzker and other stakeholders had taken steps at that point to contain the spread of the virus that plainly pass constitutional muster, even if it was not exactly what the plaintiffs were seeking. His cellmate filed a written grievance seeking an investigation into the staffs handling of the matter. Department of Corrections officials have the option of offering eligible prisoners medical furloughs, electronic home detention and early release. Speaking to the Senate panel on Friday, Jeffreys said strategies developed for the Stateville outbreak, such as deep cleaning, temperature checks, contact tracing and masking staff and inmates, have been duplicated systemwide. Zach LaVine finished with a game-high 41 points, DeMar DeRozan added 21 and Patrick Beverley had a double-double with 10 rebounds and 10 assists. The settlement reached March 23, 2021 will result in the immediate release of more than 1,000 people from IDOC facilities. He wasnt really asking for another chance, said Lindsay Hagy, Grays attorney. Roger and Susan Hertzberg before being convicted of marijuana trafficking for hauling nearly 50 pounds of pot through Illinois in 2012. The legislation was named after Joe Coleman, a father, decorated veteran, and active member in his community who had terminal cancer. To donate to our work fighting the spread of coronavirus in Illinois' prisons. State Rep. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, left, talks with state Rep. Mary Flowers, D-Chicago, during a session of the Illinois House of Representatives at the Bank of Springfield Center last year. Vaccinating prisoners is good public policy. The Senate passed a bill that could allow terminally ill prisoners Like other Chicagoans, we have ideas about what the next mayor should do. Federal sentencing and prison experts Maureen Baird, Mark H. Allenbaugh, and Alan Ellis evaluate the effectiveness of the First Step Act, a bipartisan bill passed in 2018. Before the committee voted, state Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford said the House bill as well as the one shes sponsoring on behalf of Mayor Lori Lightfoot still needs work. WebMarch 2022 Illinois provides compassionate release to eligible incarcerated individuals with a medical professional who has treated or diagnosed the person; or (5) a prison official.8. As a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic spread rapidly through Illinois prisons this fall, 73-year-old Watson Gray made another plea to be released from Dixon Correctional Center, where new infections were rising. Chaney, who was granted a sentence commutation by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and Rob Jeffreys, director of the Illinois Department of Corrections, as defendants. If you are in contact with a friend, family member, or other loved one who is currently in IDOC custody and believe that your loved one would be comfortable with you sharing their information with us, please take a moment to fill out this survey. SPRINGFIELD The right of Illinois workers to organize and to bargain collectively could soon be codified into the states constitution, and the terminally ill could soon secure early release from prison more quickly under measures that passed through the General Assembly Wednesday. Five days later, a 65-year-old sex offender from Rockford, Larry Bourbon, succumbed to the virus in his prison bunk. In cases of medical incapacity, individuals may not be terminally ill, but in a state that renders them no longer a threat to the community. In addition, the state agreed that IDOC will continue to identify and evaluate medically vulnerable prisoners for release through legally available mechanisms, according to the terms of the settlement. Northwestern University law professor Sheila Bedi, one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs, said about 1,000 prisoners could soon be released due to the settlement. So far, three incarcerated men in Illinois two who had been housed at Stateville prison in Crest Hill and a detainee at the Cook County Jail have died from complications related to the coronavirus. The screening process for staff includes temperature checks and, as of October, systemwide contact tracing. It took a prisoners death just for them to pass out a single extra bar of soap, one incarcerated man said. Chicago Tribunes Christy Gutowski contributed. As a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic spread rapidly through Illinois prisons this fall, 73-year-old Watson Gray made another plea to be released from Dixon Correctional Center, where new infections were rising. Alan Mills, executive director of the Uptown Peoples Law Center, said that if IDOC strictly followed its protocols requiring quarantine periods and negative test results, the jail transfers should not be an issue. Amanda Antholt, one of the attorneys representing the prisoners, said the settlement will likely affect up to 1,200 inmates across Illinois prisons. As the new COVID-19 surge continues racing through Illinois prisons, with a disturbing rise in inmate deaths in November plus the states first staff fatality, corrections officials said they will start to test all prison employees for the virus regardless of whether the workers have symptoms. Officials knew two weeks ago just what kind of crisis loomed outside the front doors of the sprawling Cook County Jail. COVID-19 cases are ticking back upward across Chicago and the rest of Illinois even as vaccine supply improves, the top doctors from the city and state warned Tuesday. The majority were nonwhite, with 24 listed as Black. The Illinois Department of Corrections will identify medically vulnerable and elderly prisoners eligible for early release or electronic home monitoring. Andrew Sullender reported from Springfield, Rachel Hinton from Chicago. The rate of deaths slowed tremendously after IDOC started universal testing and voluntary vaccinations of staff and inmates. Mason was freed from Pontiac Correctional Center on Nov. 25 by Gov. Through public records and interviews, the Tribune identified the first 50 inmates who died in the pandemic. Todays guest is Alan Mills, the Executive Director of the Uptown Peoples Law Center in Chicago. Pritzker's executive order gives the Illinois Department of Corrections permission to allow "medically vulnerable" inmates out of prison temporarily. 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