For months, state lawmakers, correctional workers and those incarcerated have been raising the alarm over the future of physical mail in Illinois Department of Corrections facilities.(WTTW)

Prisons in Illinois are currently facing a staffing crisis, according to a new report from the prison watchdog group the John Howard Association. It found understaffing greatly increases the amount of lockdowns and staff overtime and impacts the overall health, safety and well-being of staff and incarcerated people. (WTTW)

The impact of Stateville’s closure on workers and those incarcerated. Brandeis Friedman leads a discussion with guests including JHA's Jennifer Vollen-Katz; starts at 4:34pm (WTTW)

A new lawsuit alleges that across 2 decades, 95 people were abused by state employees while they were in the custody of juvenile detention centers in Illinois.

Joining us on the 21st is the Executive Director of the John Howard Association, which is an independent monitor that visits and reports on Illinois prisons. We'll discuss measures taken to address these issues revolving around sexual assault, why juvenile detention centers still exist in 2024, and look at how prisons are now under capacity in Illinois, compared to around a decade ago when they were overcrowded. (Illinois Public Radio)

Advocates praising a fresh plan to demolish then rebuild a pair of aging Illinois prisons are nonetheless raising questions about its long-term sense. In a plan unveiled Friday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed spending $900 million over the next five years to knock down Stateville Correctional Center, a maximum-security men’s facility just outside of Joliet, and the women’s Logan Correctional Center in Lincoln, located 30 miles north of Springfield. (WTTW)

Mike Stephen explores the quality of life in Illinois prisons with Jennifer Vollen-Katz, the executive director of the John Howard Association, talks with Illinois Humanities executive director Gabrielle Lyon about the new initiative called The Big Read, and chats with local musician Jared Rabin about his new music. (WGN Radio)

New program provides state IDs to Cook County jail inmates upon release (NBC Chicago)

Jennifer Vollen-Katz, executive director of the John Howard Association of Illinois, an independent watchdog organization, agreed that even with the improved standards, there are still shortcomings with “system transparency and concerns about the treatment and conditions youth experience while in detention.” (WTTW)

Mold, leaky roofs, sewage backups, unsafe drinking water and raccoon infestations are at the top of the list. Next up: dire staffing shortages and an aging population. (WBEZ)

JHA was honored to be asked to contribute to the June 2023 issue of the International Corrections & Prisons Association’s External Prison Oversight newsletter, which is focused on the unique needs and issues of juveniles who are detained and incarcerated.

Mike Stephen discusses the process of reforming Illinois’ juvenile justice system with Jennifer Vollen-Katz of the John Howard Association of Illinois, learns about the RTA’s strategic plan for local transportation from Streetsblog Chicago’s Sharon Hoyer, and discovers the Secret History of piano virtuoso Dorothy Donegan.

Note JHA portion begins at 6:10

(WGN Radio)

The town of Pontiac, home to almost 11,800 residents, is where Abraham Lincoln spent his early days as an attorney, and a Route 66 museum celebrates that slice of Americana.

…As WTTW News has previously reported, conditions inside Pontiac Correctional Center have led some advocates and inmates to call for its closure. They cite the physical condition of the facility, chronic short-staffing and issues with mental health and violence. (WTTW)

Just 99 miles southwest of Chicago sits Pontiac Correctional Center, one of three maximum security facilities in the state. It houses more than 400 people who’ve been convicted of murder, another 279 convicted of Class X felonies ranging from sexual assault to armed robbery and hundreds of others serving time for less serious offenses.

But it’s become known as a prison’s prison — one of the toughest in the state. Last fall, a corrections officer was stabbed by an inmate, leading to demonstrations and pickets by the union representing prison guards. Inmates accuse guards of abuse and inhumane treatment. But critics say the problems aren’t just between guards and inmates, but with the institution itself. (WTTW)

Western Illinois Correctional Center in Mount Sterling is one of 10 state-run prisons to be cited by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency for violations related to the quality of its drinking water…. A spokeswoman for the Department of Corrections said the agency is committed to working with the EPA to clear up any problems and address the issues outlined in the violation notices. (Jackson Journal-Courier)

Illinois Department of Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys is stepping down after nearly four years heading up the state’s prison system. Department of Corrections Chief of Staff Latoya Hughes will serve as the acting director while the state searches for a permanent replacement. (WBEZ)