Mason was freed from Pontiac Correctional Center on Nov. 25 by Gov. (WBEZ has agreed to not identify the prisoner by his real name. 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 More than 1,000 medically vulnerable or elderly inmates in Illinois prisons are set to be released following a settlement agreement in a lawsuit brought last spring against the head of the Illinois Department of Corrections and Gov. 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. The House took up a constitutional amendment to the states Bill of Rights that says Illinois workers shall have the fundamental right to organize and to bargain collectively for the purpose of negotiating wages, hours, and working conditions.. Linda Savage, 64, a nurse at Vienna Correctional Center in downstate Vienna, died Nov. 6, 2020, of complications related to COVID-19. On January 13th, state legislators approved a colossal 764-page police and criminal justice reform bill that includes major changes, such as ending the practice of cash bail and money bonds, requiring all officers across Illinois to wear body cameras, and easing restrictions placed on those convicted of lesser charges. "Illinois continues to lead the Nation in sensible criminal justice reform with Governor Pritzker's approval today of the Joel Coleman Act," said Craig Findley, Chairman of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board (PRB). Im open to all things that are positive, he said. Denice Bronis gets emotional while discussing her fears about her son's health at her home in East Dundee, Dec. 4, 2020. It was dropped near the main entrance of the prison near Joliet by Jennifer Lackey of Northwestern Universitys Prison Education Program. To stay up-to-date on our work,subscribe to our newsletter. "(The prisoners) have provided no convincing reason for a federal court to intrude here and now -- either to issue a blanket order for the release of thousands of inmates or to superimpose a court-mandated and court-superintended process on the mechanisms currently in place to determine which IDOC inmates can and should be safely removed from prison facilities at this time," the judge wrote in his 48-page opinion. A 13th Stateville inmate died in August. The roundhouse remains in use today. IDOC officials in early December began rolling out the testing program in which each worker is tested at least once a month, with the frequency based on the positivity rate of the prisons county. This landmark legislation requires that PRB both verify eligibility for release and consider victim statements in making its determinations.". The release of inmates requires a process that gives close attention to detail, for the safety of each inmate, his or her family, and the community at large demands a sensible and individualized release plan especially during a pandemic, Dow wrote. Additionally, the Corrections Department will give credit for good behavior to prisoners within nine months of their release date. A MONTHLY REPORT GIVING COUNSELOR CASELOADS AND TRANSFERS IS PUBLISHED. An Illinois lawmaker and a county sheriff are raising fresh concerns about Gov. There is no question that COVID was going to make it into the prisons. UPLC is tracking COVID-19 cases in IDOC. According to the settlement, the Corrections Department will continue to identify and evaluate medically vulnerable prisoners for release even after the pandemic. But legislators agreed to hold the measure as they work on a compromise. The application of credits is expected to begin within the next 30 days, the court document states. The rate of deaths slowed tremendously after IDOC started universal testing and voluntary vaccinations of staff and inmates. 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. Amanda Antholt, one of the attorneys representing the prisoners, said the settlement will likely affect up to 1,200 inmates across Illinois prisons. Vaccinating prisoners is good public policy. Matthew Echevarria's photos are displayed at his mother's home in East Dundee on Dec. 4, 2020. IDOC has about 1,000 unfilled, budgeted positions, according to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31. She urged her colleagues to find a compromise that gets to what our children in the classroom need.. Building Blocks of Success IDOT announces March dates for Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program workshops. His cellmate filed a written grievance seeking an investigation into the staffs handling of the matter. He argues the primary cause of the surge is staff infections and said IDOC should have responded with more urgency to Rabas testing recommendations. "The Joe Coleman Medical Release Act will make sure that doesn't happen to an inmate in Illinois anymore.". Todays guest is Alan Mills, the Executive Director of the Uptown Peoples Law Center in Chicago. The testing is expected to be in place systemwide by late January. Hertzberg has 13 months left on her sentence for marijuana trafficking. This legislation gives the PRB the authority to grant or deny a prisoner early release based on their medical incapacity or terminal illness. I want it [to be] clear that while I will continue to negotiate in good faith till the 11th hour of this General Assembly, I will not go quietly without passing something for an elected school board this year, said the Northwest Side Democrat, who is a sponsor of another elected school board measure. The night after the first man at Stateville Correctional Center died from COVID-19, a prisoner were referring to as Harold, said he was watching the nightly news in his cell. (The Exoneration Project photo) Gray is one of at To provide dignity for all Illinois residents in their final days, HB 3665 allows for the discretionary early release of those who are medically incapacitated or terminally ill and serving time in an Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) facility. She said prison officials did not notify her or Wilsons wife that he was hospitalized until the family made repeated phone calls. Citing his age and poor health, Grays lawyer made a final plea for mercy dated Nov. 5. Click the videos below to hear messages from Dr. John Raba and Dr. Pablo Stewart, two of ourindependent court monitors in Lippert v. Baldwin, about COVID-19 vaccines. But in denying emergency relief last year, U.S. District Judge Robert Dow said there was no convincing reason for a federal court to intrude on the effort by other stakeholders to contain the problem. The man was imprisoned at Stateville Correctional Center, where officials say there are now 12 men who are hospitalized, "including several requiring ventilators.". 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. An early release law is a state criminal law that allows a prisoner to be released before the end of their prison term. At Stateville, all but three who died were serving life sentences for murder. Under current law, terminally ill or mentally incapacitated prisoners who wish to be released to the care of family in their final days must rely on a commutation from the governor. They ranged in age from 35 to 80, with a median age of 62. In a November interview, she told the Tribune that he used to phone her once a week from Stateville and that, during one call, she noticed he could barely speak. Secure .gov websites use HTTPS 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. She said the Department of Corrections already had a draft policy similar to the one reached in the agreement that was set to be implemented July 1. 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. The lawsuit argued that keeping medically vulnerable prisoners who are at risk of contracting COVID-19 confined in close proximity to one another violated their constitutional rights, including the right protecting individuals from cruel and unusual punishment. At the county level, judges, prosecutors, and public defenders are working together to release low-risk pretrial detainees and inmates serving sentences for nonviolent offenses. "By signing the Joe Coleman Medical Release Act into law, it's my intention to honor Joe Coleman's legacy as a father, as a veteran, as a man who spent his days raising funds for charity from behind bars," said Governor JB Pritzker. Echevarria is incarcerated at Menard Correctional Center. 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. But, between mid-August and mid-October, the cumulative number of inmate infections more than tripled and total staff cases more than doubled. The advocates accuse the governor of dragging his feet in the face of a pandemic, putting prisoners and staff at greater risk. The issue of early releases is a Catch-22 for Gov. Some politicians question states priorities. "Instead, those who pose no risk to the public should be able to go home, get the care they need and spend their final days with their families. The Illinois legislature has provided IDOC with significant discretion to release people, and it should continue to do so, Bedi said. 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. Republican state Rep. Deanne Marie Mazzochi. Once you enshrine this at the constitutional level, any change is going to be very difficult to reverse, Mazzochi said. The Illinois Department of Corrections and Gov. The latest surge has far exceeded any previous peaks inside the Illinois Department of Corrections since the start of the pandemic. Roger Hertzberg, 76, died of COVID-19 complications Sept. 24 at Robinson Correctional Center. Already approved by the state Senate, it will go before voters, appearing on Illinois ballot in 2022. Under the settlement, the Department of Corrections agreed to "identify and evaluate medically vulnerable prisoners for release through legally available mechanisms." Eddie Caumiant, regional director of the union that includes state corrections employees, said the pandemic has exacerbated staffing shortages and some staff work multiple 16-hour double shifts a week., Linda Savage, 64, a nurse at Vienna Correctional Center in downstate Vienna, died Nov. 6, 2020, of complications related to COVID-19. 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. He cited the rising numbers and urged the department to act quickly because of an anticipated nationwide fall/winter surge, making a priority of prisons with large elderly populations, such as the one in Dixon. Sedelmaier died March 29 at age 59. IDOC officials said that when the virus is spreading in communities, staff may contract it at home and bring it into prisons. Echevarria is incarcerated at Menard Correctional Center. Last April, a federal judge denied their emergency request, finding the state was not violating prisoners' constitutional rights. Im sure that those victims would love to have two to three more years with their families, except for the fact that theyre all dead, McClure said. More than 1,000 prisoners in Illinois are set to be released after a lawsuit settlement aimed at protecting medically vulnerable prisoners from COVID-19. 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. The IDOC inmate population has dropped 19% since March to about 30,000, in part because of the nearly 3,000 early releases. Official websites use .gov ICJIAs Research Hub is funded through a grant from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. At UPLC, we are doing our best to stay up to date on the latest COVID-19 developments at IDOC facilities around the state. This is another step toward the world, the Illinois, our families deserve. In cases of medical CHICAGO Governor JB Pritzker signed legislation today that creates a path for the compassionate release of medically incapacitated individuals by the Prison Review Board (PRB). Bronis said he recovered but continues to have headaches and breathing difficulties. There have been 87 Illinois prisoner deaths due to COVID, according to the Marshall Project's database. Since March, the governor has pardoned or commuted the sentences of about 100 men and women convicted of crimes, the oldest dating back to 1978, that range from murder to cannabis possession. 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. Watson Gray, 73, died of complications related to COVID-19 on Nov. 6, 2020, at Dixon Correctional Center. IDOC should view this agreement as a first step towards maximizing its power to release people from prison and reunite families. Like other Chicagoans, we have ideas about what the next mayor should do. "Thanks to the many advocates and General Assembly sponsors Senator John Connor and Representative Will Guzzardi, more families will get to say goodbye to their loved ones the way we all hope to get to when the time comes: together. W&lP-1C/(JISe?jp}2 =U*#Ochs#U, MI6rje{ More than 1,000 prisoners in Illinois are set to be released after a lawsuit settlement aimed at protecting medically vulnerable prisoners from COVID-19. More than 4,000 jail detainees have entered state prisons since then. It does not, however, include details about hospitalizations, contact tracing or fatalities. To date, 20% of inmates across the $1.6 billion corrections system have tested positive since March. He has come back to normal now since coming home with family, but remains thankful. The bill passed 34 to 17 and now heads to the governors desk. The settlement reached March 23, 2021 will result in the immediate release of more than 1,000 people from IDOC facilities. Additionally, the Corrections Department will give credit for good behavior to prisoners within nine months of their release date. He said the department has responded aggressively to a challenging public health crisis that has yet to yield. WebPRISON-RELEASE DISCRETION AND PRISON POPULATION SIZE STATE REPORT: ILLINOIS 4 general population, for an average incremental downturn of -51 per 100,000.4 An Illinois federal judge on Friday refused to order the temporary release of nearly a third of the states prison population in light of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, saying the inmates arent entitled to such extraordinary relief even in these extraordinary times., A federal judge on Friday denied a request for the state to immediately release potentially thousands of at-risk detainees from Illinois prisons, saying that while the coronavirus pandemic is clearly a serious threat there was no convincing reason for a federal court to intrude here and now.". Our lives matter, Ehlers said in an email. I could hear it in his voice, that he was close, said Susan Hertzberg, as quoted in a petition her lawyer filed with the state seeking early release. 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. Earlier this month, the state began regularly testing all prison employees whether or not they have symptoms. Terminally ill incarcerated people would only be eligible if they have family able to care for them and are expected to die within 18 months, OConnor said, adding the new measure would be used when being imprisoned doesnt make a difference anymore., But state Sen. Terri Bryant pointed to cases in the states Department of Corrections where physicians said someone would imminently die over and over and over again.. The most recent numbers provided by IDOC show that 87 prisoners and one staff member have died of COVID-19-related causes since the beginning of the pandemic. All 50 were men. J.B. Pritzker could help the effort with the stroke of a pen. UPLCcollaborated on a policy paperwith the Chicago Community Bond Fund, Equip for Equality, First Defense Legal Aid, Teamwork Englewood, Warehouse Workers for Justice, and Westside Justice Centerto advocate for Illinois prisoners to receive COVID-19 vaccines. 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. 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. Help me. That plea, as a mother, is rough to hear.. The grievance alleges that he languished without meaningful medical intervention and that, after he died, his body was left in the cell for hours. That tragedy was preventable.. Currently, 57 inmates and 90 employees have tested positive for COVID-19, the records show. The IDOC denied a Tribune open-records request for information about Bourbons death, citing confidentiality exemptions. Dozens of legal and community advocacy groups signed an open letter Monday urging the Illinois Department of Public Health to prioritize incarcerated individuals and staff working in jails and prisons in its COVID-19 vaccine rollout. She said her retired parents were struggling financially when they committed the crime. "Too many seriously ill people in prisons are getting substandard medical care at exorbitant cost to the state," said State Representative Will Guzzardi (D- Chicago). 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. J.B. Pritzker through executive clemency. AT FINAL DISCHARGE, THE ADULT PAROLE SERVICES FILES ARE SENT BACK TO THE INSTITUTION WHERE THEY ARE STORED AND EVENTUALLY MICROFILMED. INSTEAD, THERE IS A FIXED RELEASE DATE, ASSUMING GOOD TIME IS SERVED, SET BY LAW AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PRISON TERM. The epicenter of IDOC outbreaks in the first wave was at Stateville Correctional Center near Joliet, where 12 prisoners died in 4 weeks. Bronis' son, Matthew Echevarria, is incarcerated at Menard Correctional Center. 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. About one-third of Dixons staff was out recently due to sickness, union officials said, and at least 10 inmates, including Watson Gray, have died there since November. Denice Bronis gets emotional while discussing her fears about her son's health at her home in East Dundee, Dec. 4, 2020. 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. WebThe Illinois Department of Corrections is a multicultural agency deeply committed to ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion. WebIllinois The recidivism rate in Illinois within one year of release is 17% and within three years of release is 43%. Chicago Tribunes Annie Sweeney contributed. State Sen. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, urged his colleagues on the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday to pass the bill so legislators have vehicles for that potential compromise, but warned that he wouldnt let those negotiations stand in the way of the city getting an elected school board. Mason, 76, said a feeling of lightness overtook him when a correctional officer stopped by his cell to tell him he was going home. This commitment is at the forefront of our operations, hiring, policies and procedures, and training. The releases are set to resume soon. Chaney, who was granted a sentence commutation by Gov. Department of Corrections officials have the option of offering eligible prisoners medical furloughs, electronic home detention and early release. The latest department data shows 82 prison staff members and 45 prisoners are currently positive for COVID-19, and a total of 4,177 staff and 10,768 prisoners have tested positive since the pandemic began. Staffers are expected to be prioritized with those in the health care field and other first responders. As of mid-December, about 400 employees were out sick and up to 100 more are usually out waiting for test results. The Illinois Department of Corrections will identify medically vulnerable and elderly prisoners eligible for early release or electronic home monitoring. Many of these men were convicted of horrific acts of violence, often in their youth. 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. Antholt said the settlement also ensures the Department of Corrections is providing training to all the relevant facilities' staff about how to accommodate the needs of vulnerable prisoners. Suburban Crime Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP file. So Why Have Only 27% Of Workers Taken The Vaccine? He tested positive for COVID-19 around Labor Day. Indiana A 58-year-old cancer survivor who had been in custody since he was a teenager, Scott died in April. All three cases demand the swift release of those prisoners most vulnerable to the epidemic before they fall victim to it. March 23, 2021. ESSENTIALLY, ONLY INFORMATION ON PRISONERS RELEASED IN THE 1970'S IS AVAILABLE IN ANY DETAIL. There was so much information that was coming and we had to figure it out for ourselves because there was just no guidance for correctional settings as it relates to this outbreak, he said. About 400 staff and 1,700 inmates are considered current cases. Heres some of whats on our to-do list. State Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, said allowing many of these inmates to be released would be unfair to the victims who cannot speak for themselves. (Family photo). Pritzker Joins Reproductive Freedom Alliance. HISTORICAL FILES ARE IMPOSSIBLE TO USE FOR ALL PRACTICAL PURPOSES. Andrew Sullender reported from Springfield, Rachel Hinton from Chicago. State Rep. Marcus Evans, the sponsor of the amendment, said it would not change existing Illinois law but make permanent the rights workers already have. stream After a deadly second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in Illinois prisons sickened thousands of workers and inmates, the state will begin vaccinating both groups in the coming week a plan that drew praise from advocates but provoked the ire of some lawmakers who argue criminals should not be prioritized. Next 30 days, the cumulative number of inmate infections more than 1,000 people from and... Does not, however, include details about hospitalizations, contact tracing or fatalities has come back to INSTITUTION. Mercy dated Nov. 5 as of mid-December, about 400 staff and inmates IDOC started universal testing and voluntary of. Than 4,000 jail detainees have entered state prisons since then and mid-October the! Of violence, often in their youth finding the state was not violating '... 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