HJ0105 99TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0105 LRB099 15437 GRL 39751 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has a prison population of over 47,000 inmates in 25 adult facilities, with a staff of 10,200, at an annual cost of $1.3 billion; and

WHEREAS, The State's correctional system is among the most crowded in the nation and is operating at more than 150% of its capacity, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics; and

WHEREAS, The State's high prison population and overcrowding is fueled by a high recidivism rate, with 48% of adults and 53% of juveniles returning to incarceration within 3 years; and

WHEREAS, Article I, Section 11 of the Illinois Constitution requires that the determination of the State's criminal penalties address both the seriousness of the crime as well as the return of the offender to productive citizenship; and

WHEREAS, The administration has set a goal for the State to reduce its prison population by 25% by 2025; and

WHEREAS, The Governor's creation of the Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform recognized the importance of a comprehensive and evidence-based approach to reduce the State's prison population, while improving public safety; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Department of Corrections currently maintains 7 Work Camps among its facilities as a transfer alternative for inmates preparing for re-entry into society; and

WHEREAS, Work Camps provide adult education, high school equivalency classes, vocational educational programs, and community service opportunities to participants, as well as job skills and an experience that may improve an inmate's reintroduction to productive citizenship and may reduce the likelihood of a return to the correctional system; and

WHEREAS, Work Camps provide thousands of hours of service to the community; and

WHEREAS, The determination of the effectiveness of job training, educational opportunities, and community service should be included in the State's evidence-based effort to reduce the recidivism rate, decrease the prison population, and increase public safety; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created the Task Force on Work Camp Rehabilitation, consisting of the following members:

(1) the Governor or his or her designee;

(2) the Director of Corrections or his or her designee;

(3) one member of the Illinois House of Representatives chosen by the Speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives;

(4) one member of the Illinois House of Representatives chosen by the Minority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives;

(5) one member of the Illinois Senate chosen by the President of the Illinois Senate;

(6) one member of the Illinois Senate chosen by the Minority Leader of the Illinois Senate;

(7) the Chair of the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council or his or her designee;

(8) one member of an association conducting independent oversight of the State's adult and juvenile correctional facilities chosen by the Governor;

(9) the Director of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts or his or her designee;

(10) one member of a not-for-profit foundation that uses evidence-based programs to assist clients with criminal records to achieve employment, successfully re-enter society, and reduce recidivism chosen by the Governor; and

(11) the Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority or his or her designee; and be it further

RESOLVED, That all appointments shall be made no later than 45 days following the adoption of this resolution; the Task Force shall hold its first meeting no later than 90 days following the adoption of this resolution and shall at that time elect a chair from among the members; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall study and determine the effectiveness of Work Camps; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall conduct an evidence-based analysis of the State's current Work Camps and a comparative analysis between Work Camps and other forms of incarceration and rehabilitation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall study and determine the extent to which the educational, job training, and community service options of Work Camps and other transitional programs would be beneficial to the State's effort to reduce recidivism, decrease the prison population, and improve public safety; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force may utilize evidence-based analysis of other rehabilitative services, including, but not limited to, mental health services, addiction recovery services, work-release programs, adult transition centers, Illinois correctional industries, vocational programs, and educational programs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the members of the Task Force shall serve without compensation; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority shall provide administrative and other support to the Task Force; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall report its findings and any recommendations to the Governor, the General Assembly, and the Director of Corrections on or before December 31, 2016; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Speaker and Minority Leader of the Illinois House of Representatives, the President and Minority Leader of the Illinois Senate, the Governor, and the Director of Corrections.