It’s time Illinois ends civil asset forfeiture
It’s time Illinois ends civil asset forfeiture
Michigan, Minnesota and now Nebraska have reformed civil asset forfeiture – it’s time Illinois followed suit.
Illinois House passes occupational-licensing reform bill
Illinois House passes occupational-licensing reform bill
HB 5937 prohibits the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation from barring former offenders from working in these areas unless their crimes directly relate to the occupations for which they seek licenses. A job is crucial to preventing repeat offenses: Nearly half of ex-offenders in Illinois end up back behind bars within three years, but ex-offenders who are employed a year after release can have a recidivism rate as low as 16 percent.
Record sealing for Illinois ex-offenders offers a better shot at employment, second chance
Record sealing for Illinois ex-offenders offers a better shot at employment, second chance
An effective record-sealing policy can help nonviolent offenders find employment and stay away from crime.
Adult Redeploy has saved Illinois nearly $70 million in avoided prison spending
Adult Redeploy has saved Illinois nearly $70 million in avoided prison spending
By investing in community-based programs that treat nonviolent offenders’ drug and mental health problems, Illinois can avoid more costly expenditures on incarceration.
Branded with a number on my name
Branded with a number on my name
When they let me out of prison, I held my head up high. Determined I would rise above the shame. But no matter where I’m living, the black mark follows me. I’m branded with a number on my name. —Merle Haggard
Illinois to allow trained ex-offenders to apply for barbering and cosmetology licenses before they leave prison
Illinois to allow trained ex-offenders to apply for barbering and cosmetology licenses before they leave prison
By allowing offenders to submit applications for barbering licenses within six months before release from prison, Illinois will reduce wait times for licensing – and reduce the likelihood those ex-offenders will return to crime. But more reforms are needed.
Bill to ban sale of bobcat pelts heads to Illinois Senate
Bill to ban sale of bobcat pelts heads to Illinois Senate
In the midst of the state’s budget, pension and out-migration crises, an Illinois politician has introduced SB 2143 to ban the sale of bobcat pelts, as well as the trapping of these animals.
How business-liability reform can help encourage ex-offender employment
How business-liability reform can help encourage ex-offender employment
With the right liability reforms, Illinois can protect businesses and make them more likely to give ex-offenders a chance at employment.
Illinois bill allows courts to ban social media and demand access to accounts for juveniles charged with crimes
Illinois bill allows courts to ban social media and demand access to accounts for juveniles charged with crimes
Senate Bill 2871 would give courts in Illinois the ability to ban juveniles’ access to social media and require them to turn over passwords to law-enforcement officials.
Ex-offenders need to work to stay out of the system – but Illinois’ occupational-licensing rules keep many out of careers
Ex-offenders need to work to stay out of the system – but Illinois’ occupational-licensing rules keep many out of careers
To get ex-offenders back to work and reduce crime, Illinois needs to lift restrictions on the right to earn a living .
Just reward: How the past haunts one Illinois mother searching for a second chance
Just reward: How the past haunts one Illinois mother searching for a second chance
Should a teenage crime of desperation shackle an ex-offender for life? This is the question facing Illinois state politicians, who, due to a law they passed in 2011, must reckon with the likes of Lisa Creason, a 43-year-old mother from Decatur, Illinois. By all accounts, Lisa Creason is a respected member of her community. She’s...
The debt never paid: Re-entry reforms for Illinois
The debt never paid: Re-entry reforms for Illinois
How to reform a broken criminal-justice system that prevents ex-offenders from achieving self-sufficiency
Not forgiven, not forgotten: The injustice of Illinois’ scarlet letters
Not forgiven, not forgotten: The injustice of Illinois’ scarlet letters
Governments in Illinois can take your property without charging you with a crime
Governments in Illinois can take your property without charging you with a crime
A court decision involving the government’s seizure of more than $270,000 from two Chicagoans highlights major problems with civil asset forfeiture.