View our 2024 first half stats here.
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The top issues in 2023 to date have been lack of access to information, poor conditions such as unsanitary water and extreme temperatures, staff-related issues (e.g., misconduct, shortages, programming, grievances), and medical concerns, including lack of treatment.
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In the first half of 2022 JHA staff fielded nearly 1,000 communications – including 475 letters from people who are incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) and nearly 100 additional letters from people residing in out-of-state, Illinois county, Illinois federal, or unidentified facilities. In addition to these letters received, JHA tracked issues from 375 calls and emails from people in the community.
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JHA reviews and codes every communication received. In 2021, these communications included over 1,500 letters from people who are incarcerated, as well as 800 calls and emails from people in the community. Each communication or report may raise multiple issues and include various questions. The top five issues communicated to JHA in 2021 were related to access to information; IDOC staff conduct; conditions within the facilities; medical and mental health; and commissary. These five categories of issues represent 50% of the overall issues reported to JHA in 2021. Of interest is that this is the first year since JHA began coding and tracking issues reported that commissary has registered as one of the top issues for the year. Reports regarding commissary concerns tripled in the last three months of 2021 over the previous nine months of the year.
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2020 Prison Communications Data
The information provided through JHA’s Prison Communications during the pandemic aided JHA in advocating for the release of as many incarcerated people as possible; pushing for adequate PPE, social distancing, cohorting and healthcare for those working and living in prisons; calling for more data transparency on COVID-19 protocols, testing, positive cases, hospitalizations, and deaths; and seeking the prioritization of vaccines for those behind prison walls.
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2019 prison response data by the numbers
5,019 letters received from 2,327 individuals who were housed in a prison or jail
766 calls and emails received from people in the community with concerns and questions
More than 75 volunteers donated 1,657 hours of their time reading, answering and tracking letters
During 2018, JHA processed 13% more letters than the year prior: a total of 5,817 letters from 2,282 individuals who were housed in a prison or jail. Additionally, JHA received and responded to more than 815 calls and emails from people in the community.
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During 2017, JHA processed nearly twice as many letters as the prior year: 5,140 letters from 2,543 individuals who were housed in a prison or jail. Of the 2,543 people who wrote JHA in 2017, more than half (1,866) contacted JHA for the first time. In addition, JHA received and responded to more than 579 calls and emails from people in the community.
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During 2016, JHA received 2,623 letters from 1,468 inmates. JHA also received and responded to more than 612 calls and emails.
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