Most young adults who are serving long-term sentences can apply for parole in Illinois under a new law. “The historic legislation will create a long-awaited and vital new parole system for youth facing long sentences,” said Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The measure allows the granting of discretionary pa- role for people who commit- ted a crime before the age of 21, The Chicago Tribune reported April 3. “Everybody deserves a second chance, but especially our youth. In the juvenile justice system, our youth often get their rights … [Read more...] about Illinois offers young offenders hope
Illinois
Illinois shut down prison debate team after successful public event
After a successful public debate on reforming, the Illinois parole system, prison officials shut down the Stateville Debate Team in April. The goal of the team was to use debate as a tool to “connect prisoners to the broader debate community” and provide an opportunity to learn and practice the principles of debate, said Katrina Burlet, director of the Justice Debate League (JDL) and coach of the Stateville Debate Team. JDL hosted a public debate on reforming the Illinois parole system with an audience of about 75 people “including state … [Read more...] about Illinois shut down prison debate team after successful public event
Returning citizens tend to be more politically involved
Political science professors Hannah L. Walker and Michael Leo Owens allege that formerly incarcerated individuals tend to be more politically involved in regions with abundant non-profit organizations that support their re-entry efforts. In an opinion article posted in The Washington Post, Walker and Owens chronicle their study and explain their conclusion. They used data that had been gathered through an online survey done by the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois during August and September of … [Read more...] about Returning citizens tend to be more politically involved