"Too many seriously ill people in prisons are getting substandard medical care at exorbitant cost to the state," said State Representative Will Guzzardi (D- Chicago). The lawsuit argued that keeping medically vulnerable prisoners who are at risk of contracting COVID-19 confined in close proximity to one another violated their constitutional rights, including the right protecting individuals from cruel and unusual punishment. (WBEZ has agreed to not identify the prisoner by his real name. "I watched helplessly as my father died a lonely death behind bars," said Joe Coleman, Jr. "I thank the Governor and the General Assembly for ensuring no other family has to experience that despair, and for doing so in the honor of my father. House Bill 3665, also known as the Joe Coleman Medical Release Act, reflects the administration's commitment to bringing about true, meaningful reform in the justice system. In total, more than 10,000 inmates and staff have tested positive from the start of the pandemic. Inmates with at least nine months of their sentence remaining who are considered low-risk will receive 60 days of good behavior credit, while those considered medium-risk will be awarded 30 days credit. Inmates with at least nine months of their sentence remaining who are considered low-risk will recei. We do believe things are moving in the right direction.. Matthew Echevarria's photos are displayed at his mother's home in East Dundee on Dec. 4, 2020. As COVID-19 vaccination distribution has expanded across the country, incarcerated people remain one of the populations that is both most vulnerable to COVID-19 and most distrustful of medical care, according to several legal advocacy organizations. New questions were being raised Tuesday night about how many inmates have actually been released from state prisons because of the COVID-19 crisis, and The Illinois Department of Corrections agreed to use its best efforts to process the awards within the next month. But legislators agreed to hold the measure as they work on a compromise. As a result of this settlement, prison officials will finally begin to address this issue.. Officials knew two weeks ago just what kind of crisis loomed outside the front doors of the sprawling Cook County Jail. The law took effect January 1, 2022. Hertzberg has 13 months left on her sentence for marijuana trafficking. (April 17) In Illinois, the governor signed an executive order that eases the Additionally, The Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council estimated that the recidivism rate would cost taxpayers $13 billion over five years if nothing is done to decrease it. Click here to sign up for the May 12, 2020: Arkansas state officials announced that 300 inmates had been released from state prisons, and the states Board of Corrections have made over 1,200 inmates eligible for parole since April. In emailed responses to Tribune questions, Ryburn said he was not tested after Bourbon died but he did not get sick. The latest department data shows 82 prison staff members and 45 prisoners are currently positive for COVID-19, and a total of 4,177 staff and 10,768 prisoners have tested positive since the pandemic began. After a deadly second wave of the coronavirus pandemic in Illinois prisons sickened thousands of workers and inmates, the state will begin vaccinating both groups in the coming week a plan that drew praise from advocates but provoked the ire of some lawmakers who argue criminals should not be prioritized. She said her retired parents were struggling financially when they committed the crime. J.B. Pritzker is deploying medics from the Illinois National Guard to the Illinois Department of Corrections facility, where advocates have declared a disaster.. Early in the pandemic, Pritzker signed an executive order that temporarily stopped the transfers, but they resumed in early August after the Illinois Sheriffs Association filed a lawsuit challenging the order. Many experts agree the best way to control the virus in prison is to reduce head count. "It's only fitting that his death in prison, though tragic and unnecessary given the many who loved him, will help to restore dignity and humanity to incarcerated people and their families. "By signing the Joe Coleman Medical Release Act into law, it's my intention to honor Joe Coleman's legacy as a father, as a veteran, as a man who spent his days raising funds for charity from behind bars," said Governor JB Pritzker. He just wanted to die with dignity outside of prison, at home with his family.. He has been living with Bill Ryan, a longtime criminal justice advocate and death penalty abolitionist, since his release. Andrew Sullender reported from Springfield, Rachel Hinton from Chicago. Stateville Correctional Center, a maximum security state prison for men in Crest Hill, on March 30, 2020. ", "Joe spent his life in service of others from his time in the military to his time in prison," said Jennifer Soble, Executive Director, Illinois Prison Project. Releasing inmates "requires a process that gives close attention to detail, for the safety of each inmate, his or her family, and the community at large demands a sensible and individualized release plan -- especially during a pandemic," the opinion continued. A stress fracture in his shin. A day later, Gray died of complications related to COVID-19. The testing is expected to be in place systemwide by late January. WebThe Illinois Department of Corrections is a multicultural agency deeply committed to ensuring diversity, equity, and inclusion. The screening process for staff includes temperature checks and, as of October, systemwide contact tracing. So far, three incarcerated men in Illinois two who had been housed at Stateville prison in Crest Hill and a detainee at the Cook County Jail have died from complications related to the coronavirus. The latest surge has far exceeded any previous peaks inside the Illinois Department of Corrections since the start of the pandemic. "Governor Pritzker's signature on legislation authored by Senator Connor and Representative Guzzardi demonstrates compassion for those with greatest medical need and lowest risk of reoffense. To see charts broken down by prison, click here. Watson Gray, 73, died of complications related to COVID-19 on Nov. 6, 2020, at Dixon Correctional Center. Herman Townsell, who spent 71/2 years in prison for a 1994 home invasion, kidnapping and sexual assault of a 14-year-old girl and has been in and out of prison As PLN has reported extensively in the past, while most states and the federal government have medical release laws on the books, sick prisoners still generally die in But theres no mechanism in Illinois to permit us to do that, said the bills sponsor, state Sen. John Connor, D-Lockport. (Youngrae Kim / Chicago Tribune). The Illinois Department of Corrections will identify medically vulnerable and elderly prisoners eligible for early release or electronic home monitoring. The settlement would accelerate the implementation of the policy by 90 days, she said in a statement. He cited the rising numbers and urged the department to act quickly because of an anticipated nationwide fall/winter surge, making a priority of prisons with large elderly populations, such as the one in Dixon. A spokeswoman for Gov. The tragedy is the number of people who have become sick and died. All three cases demand the swift release of those prisoners most vulnerable to the epidemic before they fall victim to it. (The Exoneration Project photo). Territories Financial Support Center (TFSC), Tribal Financial Management Center (TFMC), IllinoisCriminal Justice Information Authority. Legislators designed the The settlement also calls for the department to apply good behavior credits to inmates who are eligible for those credits and have at least nine months left on their sentence. One staff member a 64-year-old nurse near retirement also died. Some politicians question states priorities. The move was criticized by some advocates of prisoners rights because of its deteriorated state, but state officials said repairs were made and public health officials inspected it. They dont they didnt get that opportunity.. He said the department has responded aggressively to a challenging public health crisis that has yet to yield. But a coalition of advocacy groups that sued, brought in about 30 members of the Illinois National Guard, mandatory sentence even if no one was physically, Photos: Northwestern loses to Penn State 68-65 in overtime, Nick Niego is back as Brother Rice stuns St. Rita. COVID-19 continues to have a devastating effect on one of Chicagos most vulnerable congregate populations: jail and prison detainees. J.B. Pritzkers decision to release inmates as the spread of COVID-19 continues in the states prisons, including questions about transparency. State Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford, D-Maywood, and then future state Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, on the Senate floor last year. So Why Have Only 27% Of Workers Taken The Vaccine? Over four months, only one inmate died of COVID-19 systemwide. We urge officials to promptly release detainees who can be released safely. The latest IDOC data shows 82 prison staff and 45 prisoners are currently positive for COVID-19, and a total of 4,177 staff and 10,768 prisoners have tested Once you enshrine this at the constitutional level, any change is going to be very difficult to reverse, Mazzochi said. The Illinois Department of Corrections will identify medically vulnerable and elderly prisoners eligible for early release or electronic home monitoring. As for what caused the resurgence, thats in dispute. A stress fracture in his shin. Press Release - Tuesday, February 21, 2023 ChicagoGovernor JB Pritzker today announced he will join the Reproductive Freedom Alliance (RFA), a non-partisan group of state Governors focused on working alongside one another to identify best practices for legislative and executive If you are a member of the press, please contact our Director of Communications, Megan Groves, at megan@uplcchicago.org. This legislation gives the PRB the authority to grant or deny a prisoner early release based on their medical incapacity or terminal illness. On April 17th, he commuted the sentences of 7 people in Ohio state prisons. This commitment is at the forefront of our That means prison medical copays must go. 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To date, 20% of inmates across the $1.6 billion corrections system have tested positive since March. 3 0 obj Bronis said he recovered but continues to have headaches and breathing difficulties. He argues the primary cause of the surge is staff infections and said IDOC should have responded with more urgency to Rabas testing recommendations. Federal sentencing and prison experts Maureen Baird, Mark H. Allenbaugh, and Alan Ellis evaluate the effectiveness of the First Step Act, a bipartisan bill passed in 2018. In nearly two dozen of the cases, Pritzker granted freedom to men serving natural life sentences for armed robbery under the states habitual criminal law, which after a third offense triggers the mandatory sentence even if no one was physically harmed. A state budget with firm fiscal foundation that shows tremendous progress? Or a cynical election-year ploy to buy votes? A representative of the Illinois Department of Corrections did not respond to a request for comment about the settlement. Members of End Illinois Prison Lockdown Coalition rally as they call out Gov. Read more here! In cases of medical She cared about people a whole lot, said her husband. At a recent state Senate committee hearing, acting IDOC Director Rob Jeffreys acknowledged the high numbers, which he blamed in part on increased testing and said mirrors state and national trends. J.B. Pritzker and IDOC had dragged their feet on identifying vulnerable prisoners eligible for early release, putting detainees, prison staff and the public at greater risk of severe illness and death. J.B. Pritzker said the Corrections Department has consistently, reviewed its population foreligibilityto be grantedup to 180 daysof credit and claimed they have stepped up these efforts during the pandemic. He had three disciplinary tickets in four decades for minor infractions, said his lawyer, Soble. J.B. Pritzker arent doing enough to protect elderly and medically vulnerable inmates from COVID-19 inside state prison facilities, according to a lawsuit that claims inadequate testing and sanitation supplies have created conditions where the virus can spread like wildfire.. Watson Gray, 73, died of complications related to COVID-19 on Nov. 6, 2020, at Dixon Correctional Center. The proposed constitutional amendment passed 80 to 30. In addition to providing personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies, the department long ago halted in-person visits, imposed a staff mask mandate and restricted prisoners to their cells with few exceptions, such as showering. In cases of medical incapacity, individuals may not be terminally ill, but in a state that renders them no longer a threat to the community. At Stateville, all but three who died were serving life sentences for murder. Mayor poses question to casino opponents: Do you want your taxes raised? People incarcerated in jails and prisons will be prioritized for vaccines along with people who are 65 and older, certain essential workers and people experiencing homelessness or residing in shelters, according to the plan released Dec. 31 by the state health department. There was so much information that was coming and we had to figure it out for ourselves because there was just no guidance for correctional settings as it relates to this outbreak, he said. Fatalities have been reported in nearly 20 IDOC facilities, with Dixon one of the latest hot spots. ACCESS TO THE SYSTEM REPORTS ON INDIVIDUALS IS GOVERNED BY ILLINOIS STATUTE, AS IS ACCESS TO SUPERVISION FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES. The IDOC administration, he said, has tried to be responsive. At about 100 pounds and in poor health, 78-year-old Susan Hertzberg hardly poses a threat to public safety, her lawyer said. HB 3665 not only provides better, more compassionate care to Illinois' seriously ill population, but helps improve the overall prison healthcare system. She described a frantic several days just calling everybody at the prison, back and forth, in circles, basically. Relatives also called a nearby hospital, she said, but inmates at the hospital are listed as John Does, which added to the initial confusion. The first prison inmates to go home under Illinois new early release program could be out within a month, the director of the state Corrections Department said Monday. On March 17th, civil rights groups signed an open letter to Governor Pritzker with demands related to prisoners in light of the COVID-19 outbreak in Illinois. "Illinois continues to lead the Nation in sensible criminal justice reform with Governor Pritzker's approval today of the Joel Coleman Act," said Craig Findley, Chairman of the Illinois Prisoner Review Board (PRB). RECORDKEEPING PRACTICES DIFFER IN EACH AREA OF ILLINOIS' PAROLE DISTRICTS. In addition, the state agreed that IDOC will continue to identify and evaluate medically vulnerable prisoners for release through legally available mechanisms, according to the terms of the settlement. That tragedy was preventable.. The message to everyone across this country and across the state is that their workers want to be prioritized, the Chicago Democrat said. Last April, a federal judge denied their emergency request, finding the state was not violating prisoners' constitutional rights. Im sure that those victims would love to have two to three more years with their families, except for the fact that theyre all dead, McClure said. A spokesperson for Pritzker was not immediately available for comment. The most recent numbers provided by IDOC show that 87 prisoners and one staff member have died of COVID-19-related causes since the beginning of the pandemic. SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - Illinois officials on Monday reported the death of a state prison inmate from COVID-19 and acknowledged the difficulty they face in stopping the spread of the virus in a crowded correctional system. Watson Gray, 73, died of complications related to COVID-19 on Nov. 6, 2020, at Dixon Correctional Center. Through public records and interviews, the Tribune identified the first 50 inmates who died in the pandemic. Since then, the total number of infections has risen by more than 9,000 cases, state data shows. Like other Chicagoans, we have ideas about what the next mayor should do. J.B. Pritzker expanded under an executive order last year, are defined as a "temporary leave of absence from secure custody for limited medical purposes for offenders who, because of a medical condition, are determined to be either of limited physical mobility or terminally ill.". The first, Russell Sedelmaier, was convicted of a 2005 double homicide in Buffalo Grove. Since March, the governor has pardoned or commuted the sentences of about 100 men and women convicted of crimes, the oldest dating back to 1978, that range from murder to cannabis possession. Denice Bronis gets emotional while discussing her fears about her son's health at her home in East Dundee, Dec. 4, 2020. Before the committee voted, state Senate Majority Leader Kimberly Lightford said the House bill as well as the one shes sponsoring on behalf of Mayor Lori Lightfoot still needs work. He mentored younger men and ran an inmates chapter of the Jaycees charity, as well as other prison programs. It remains to be seen if the law does anything. About 400 staff and 1,700 inmates are considered current cases. As a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic spread rapidly through Illinois prisons this fall, 73-year-old Watson Gray made another plea to be released from Dixon Correctional Center, where new infections were rising. Under current law, terminally ill or mentally incapacitated prisoners who wish to be released to the care of family in their final days must rely on a commutation from the governor. Many inmates, relatives and recently freed men interviewed by the Tribune agreed that access to masks and cleaning supplies has improved since earlier this year, when there was a national shortage. A man incarcerated at the Stateville Correctional Center in Crest Hill is among eight new deaths from the Coronavirus in Illinois, and 18 other inmates were taken to AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, officials said. It was dropped near the main entrance of the prison near Joliet by Jennifer Lackey of Northwestern Universitys Prison Education Program. This report has been corrected to indicate that the state Senate had already passed the amendment. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune), Lester Mason was released from Pontiac Correctional Center on Nov. 25 after spending 39 years in prison for armed robbery, his third such offense. WebUNDER THE LAW EFFECTING THIS CHANGE, PRISON TERMS ARE ESTABLISHED FOR SERIOUS OFFENSES AND FOR SUPERVISED RELEASE TERMS, AND stream On January 13th, state legislators approved a colossal 764-page police and criminal justice reform bill that includes major changes, such as ending the practice of cash bail and money bonds, requiring all officers across Illinois to wear body cameras, and easing restrictions placed on those convicted of lesser charges. THE BOARD MAINTAINS RECORDS OF THE OUTCOME OF EACH DECISION, CARD FILES CONTAINING THE PAROLE HISTORY OF EACH PAROLEE, AND LEGAL PAPERS PERTINENT TO DECISIONS. As of Monday, more than 10,800 state inmates and 4,200 staff members had tested positive for the virus, according to IDOC statistics posted online. Also, early release substantially accelerated the amount of crime suffered by the public, but contributed to less than 1 percent of all crimes reported in Illinois. Roger and Susan Hertzberg before being convicted of marijuana trafficking for hauling nearly 50 pounds of pot through Illinois in 2012. At a Georgia state House of Representatives hearing on prison conditions in September, a corrections officer called in to testify, interrupting his shift to tell lawmakers how dire conditions had become. More than 4,000 jail detainees have entered state prisons since then. Rosario Ibarra, Mexicos champion of the disappeared, has died at 95, Cook County judge refused to speak with police investigating another judge, Lightfoot is out, Vallas and Johnson are in the April runoff, Chicago police officer dies after exchanging gunfire at close range with suspect in Gage Park, Analysis: How Lightfoot went from political rock star to rock bottom, Patrick Kane leaves Chicago with clear legacy: Blackhawks greatest player of all time, Mayor Lori Lightfoot was in a fight she couldnt have won, Northwestern falls to Penn State in OT for third consecutive loss, Bulls nearly blow 21-point lead but survive against Pistons, Defensive whiz Richard Zoller, high-flying Angelo Ciaravino help Mount Carmel take down Hyde Park. According to the settlement, the Corrections Department will continue to identify and evaluate medically vulnerable prisoners for release even after the pandemic. Even if they matter to no one but us., Stateville Correctional Center personnel pull carts of hand sanitizer and bars of soap on April 24, 2020. Todays guest is Alan Mills, the Executive Director of the Uptown Peoples Law Center in Chicago. I want it [to be] clear that while I will continue to negotiate in good faith till the 11th hour of this General Assembly, I will not go quietly without passing something for an elected school board this year, said the Northwest Side Democrat, who is a sponsor of another elected school board measure. It does not, however, include details about hospitalizations, contact tracing or fatalities. This on its face seems like a really nice idea but well be dealing with the negative fallout of an ill thought-out constitutional provision.. Cynthia McDonalds son, Joseph Wilson, 44, died of a COVID-19-related illness while hospitalized on April 13. The epicenter of IDOC outbreaks in the first wave was at Stateville Correctional Center near Joliet, where 12 prisoners died in 4 weeks. The night after the first man at Stateville Correctional Center died from COVID-19, a prisoner were referring to as Harold, said he was watching the nightly news in his cell. It was dropped near the main entrance of the prison near Joliet by Jennifer Lackey of Northwestern Universitys Prison Education Program. "Governor Pritzker's prioritization of legislative reforms of the criminal justice system reinforces the importance of collaboration among Illinois agencies to cultivate positive change.". Lindsey Hess, spokeswoman for Corrections Director Rob Jeffreys, said it was too early to determine how many prisoners would be released under the agreement. Their complaints echo a survey conducted in April and early May by the John Howard Association, a prison watchdog group. 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