Today: Illinois Policy Institute and the Coalition for Public Safety to host panel on criminal justice reform

September 22, 2015

Illinois needs a criminal justice system that is smarter, fairer and more cost effective.

CHICAGO (Sept. 22, 2015) – Across the nation, state and local governments are focused on reducing crime rates and incarceration rates. But Illinois has struggled to achieve both of these; over the past decade the state’s crime rate has dropped, but Illinois’ incarceration rate has increased. Meanwhile, the cost of the state’s criminal justice system has skyrocketed to $1.4 billion annually.

Illinois needs a criminal justice system that is smarter, fairer and more cost effective. At 10 a.m., today, the Illinois Policy Institute and the Coalition for Public Safety will host the “Illinois Justice Forum.” This event will feature a panel of Illinois’ leading voices on criminal justice reform who will discuss which policy changes would make Illinois a safer state while also making our criminal justice system more fair and effective.

WHAT: Illinois Justice Forum – a panel discussion on criminal justice reform hosted by the Illinois Policy Institute and The Coalition for Public Safety

WHEN: 10 a.m., today

WHERE: Kasbeer Hall, 15th floor, Loyola University School of Law, 25 E. Pearson St., Chicago

Panelists: 

  • Illinois State Sen. Michael Connelly, R-Wheaton
  • Laurie Garduque, director of justice reform, MacArthur Foundation
  • Lance Lemmonds, senior policy advisor, Coalition for Public Safety
  • Bryant Jackson-Green, criminal justice policy analyst, Illinois Policy Institute
  • Benjamin G. Ruddell, criminal justice policy attorney, American Civil Liberties Union
  • Jennifer Vollen-Katz, executive director, John Howard Association

Panel discussion topics:

  • What does having such a large prison population mean for Illinois’ safety, how does this issue impact the state’s budget?
  • Why is Illinois’ prison population growing at such a steep pace?
  • What policies can Illinois enact that would begin to reform the state’s criminal justice system while ensuring safety for residents?
  • What policies should Gov. Bruce Rauner’s committee on criminal justice reform focus on in the short and long term?

FOR INTERVIEWS, CONTACT: Nathaniel Hamilton 312-346-5700 x202