CHICAGO (Feb. 24, 2016) – The Illinois Policy Institute, American Civil Liberties Union and Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform are partnering to host a panel Wednesday, Feb. 24 to discuss ways to reform the state’s broken criminal-justice system.

Each year more than 30,000 people are released from prison in Illinois. The panel will discuss the challenges these people face as they try to re-enter society. In particular, the panel will focus on the first set of recommendations from the Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform, released last month. Gov. Bruce Rauner established the commission last year to find ways to reduce the level of incarceration in Illinois 25 percent by 2025.

“The commission’s recommendations provide a great starting place for reform,” said Bryant Jackson-Green, criminal-justice policy analyst with the Illinois Policy Institute. “With policy and legislative changes like these, Illinois can reach the goal of a lower crime rate, lower incarceration rate and smarter spending on its criminal-justice system.”

Panelists include:

• Rodger Heaton, chairman of the Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform, and director of public safety and homeland security advisor to the governor.

• Bryant Jackson-Green, criminal justice policy analyst with the Illinois Policy Institute.

• Ben Ruddell, criminal justice policy attorney with the ACLU of Illinois

The panel is moderated by Khadine Bennett, staff attorney and legislative counsel with the ACLU of Illinois. The panel discussion will take place at 8 a.m. on Feb. 24 at Jenner & Block LLP, 335 N. Clark St. Chicago, IL. Attendees can register for the event at Eventbrite. The panel will be available for interviews with the media starting at 7:30 a.m.

For bookings or interviews: Diana Rickert or Joe Kaiser 312-607-4977