Insights & Information

The Council of State Governments Justice Center has released a report, Adults with Behavioral Health Needs under Correctional Supervision: A Shared Framework for Reducing Recidivism and Promoting Recovery. Introducing CSG's Criminogenic Risk and Behavioral Health Needs Framework, the report is intended for policymakers, system administrators, and service providers working to reduce recidivism among people with substance use and mental health issues who are under community supervision. The framework can be used by both correctional and behavioral health systems to guide the use of resources based on objective assessments of individuals’ risk of committing a future crime and their treatment and recovery support needs. To access the fully report, click here.

The Council of State Governments Justice Center released a report comparing three-year recidivism rates among seven states that have recently implemented targeted and evidence-based reentry reforms. Among the seven states, the report cites that recidivism rates decreased as much as 18 percent and not less than 6 percent. This is encouraging evidence that effective, evidence-based reforms can improve public safety and save tax dollars. Read the full report here.

State Representative La Shawn K. Ford is sponsoring an event focused on housing and employment with presentations by the following organizations:

•  US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
• City of Chicago Reentry Services
• The John Marshall Law School, Chicago - Fair Housing
• Chicago Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
• Chicago Coaltion for the Homeless
• Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
• Safer Foundation
• Hughes, Socol, Piers, Resnick, & Dim

September 26, 2012
10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
United for Better Living
4540 W. Washington Blvd
Chicago, IL
Event is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Ms. Val at 773-960-9269.

Prairie State College is hosting a criminal justice summit for people with criminal histories (arrest or conviction). The event schedule includes a panel discussion and the opportunity to meet with experts to discuss expungement and sealing, job training and placement, housing support, and substance abuse or mental health services.

November 10, 2012
9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Prairie State College Conference Center
202 S. Halsted St.

Chicago Heights, IL
Registration begins in early October. For more information, click here.

Agape Missions, NFP is hosting an expugement and sealing workshop for people involved in the criminal justice system. A presentation will be provided by a licensed attorney and a one-on-one Q&A session will follow. All attendees will receive expungement kits. Be sure to bring your record and/or rap sheet. For more information about Agape Mission re-entry services, click here.

September 18, 2012
6:00 PM
840 Plainfield Road
Joliet, IL 60435

In February, the John Howard Association (JHA) visited three Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) southern facilities: IYC-Harrisburg, IYC-Murphysboro, and IYC-Pere Marquette, and have released a report with the group's findings and assessment of these facilities. The report includes focus on treatment programs, education, vocational programs, re-entry preparation, staff/youth relations, and physical conditions. JHA recommended areas for improvement at all three facilities, but also reports that they were impressed by many of the programs administered. The group advocates for continued efforts in youth re-entry preparation and supports the Governor's plan to close two of the facilities. To read the full report, click here.

The University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois, is hosting a one-day Policy and Practice Symposium to examine contemporary issues within the criminal justice system, criminal justice reform efforts, youth and justice, and community collaboration. Internationally known litigator-turned-legal-scholar Michelle Alexander will present an incisive critique of the current social justice system and examine the historical and controversial drug policy referred to as the “War on Drugs” in her keynote address. 1.5 CE units can be earned by social workers and counselors attending Alexander’s keynote address. For more information, click here or here.

April 12, 2012
12:45PM - 9:00PM
University of St. Francis
Joliet, IL

Green For All recently released a report, "Green Strategies to Re-Entry," detailing how formerly incarcerated individuals can find employment in the green industry. Twenty eight percent of Americans have a criminal record of some kind, significantly increasing their likelihood of unemployment and reducing their wages by 11 percent. Forty percent of released inmates return to prison within three years, but vocational training during incarceration and post-release significantly reduces these recidivism rates. Additionally, transitional jobs programs can reduce that rate by 40 percent. The report outlines opportunities and potential of jobs in high demand green sectors, best practices of re-entry programs, and public policies that can promote fair opportunities for people with criminal histories in the emerging green economy. To read more, click here.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and experts in the reentry field have advocated for states to evaluate their occupational screening laws to reduce barriers to employment of people with criminal records. NELP, National H.I.R.E. Network, and The Sentencing Project will co-host a webinar to help individuals across the country learn about the latest developments in state legislation relating to criminal records and employment. In addition to a number of policy reforms, the webinar will focus on problematic state legislation that will likely reemerge in the 2012 state legislative session.
 
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
1:00PM – 2:00PM
To register, click here.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) has announced an annual forum for Illinois law enforcement executives and criminal justice system policy makers to organize and discuss emerging issues in policing. The first symposium, The New Paradigm in Policing: Contracting, Shared Services and Consolidation, will address changes in service models and partnerships with police agencies in a difficult economic environment. Featuring a panel of national experts, this symposium will provide comprehensive understanding of the various models for shared services and consolidation and also provide effective strategies for managing inherent challenges.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011
8:00AM – 4:30PM
Four Points by Sheraton-O'Hare,
10249 W Irving Park Rd,
Schiller Park, IL
To register by November 10, click here.