Prison commissary is not just an opportunity for people to purchase desirable “extras;” it is how many people meet their basic needs in Illinois prisons. Going without items from commissary increases deprivation and negatively impacts the quality of life for those living in prison. In turn, this fuels a climate that hurts everyone who lives and works in Illinois prisons.

This statement describes issues identified, questions we asked, and information shared by IDOC in order to provide a better understanding of the ongoing commissary difficulties.

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JHA supports use of language that is accurate and respectful of our common humanity. We will continue to participate in and monitor the ongoing discussions on use of language when referring to people who are incarcerated in order to ensure that the language we use best reflects our commitment to changing standards and norms, and most importantly, demonstrates respect for every person.

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When an officer’s behavior is observable, their actions cannot be denied.

As I listened to the news focused on the results of the Derek Chauvin trial and the many responses of relief being articulated in response to the verdict, one point came up with consistency: the impact of the videos taken by people who saw what Officer Chauvin did. Following the verdict, I heard several civil rights leaders and criminal defense attorneys take to social media, radio, and television to articulate the same basic premise: what is different about the Chauvin case is that people saw what happened and had the courage to capture it on video to create evidence. We cannot deny what we see for ourselves.

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JHA Testimony in support of the SFY 2022 Proposed Budget for the Illinois Department Corrections to the House Appropriations—Public Safety Committee of the 102nd Illinois General Assembly

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JHA Testimony in support of the SFY 2022 Proposed Budget for the Illinois Department Corrections to the Senate Appropriations—Criminal Justice Subcommittee of the 102nd Illinois General Assembly

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JHA submits this testimony in support of HB 3887, the bill to create the IDOC Independent Ombudsman Bureau. Correctional Ombuds offices provide critical transparency into the closed system of corrections which creates accountability.

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JHA Testimony in support of the SFY 2022 Proposed Budget for the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice to the Senate Appropriations—Criminal Justice Sub Committee of the 102nd Illinois General Assembly, March 17, 2021.

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JHA is thrilled that the Governor signed House Bill (HB) 3653, omnibus criminal justice reform legislation, now known as the SAFE-T Act (Safety Accountability Fairness Equity Today) into law. There is more work to be done, but with the enactment of this law, Illinois takes an important step towards achieving a better system for our state -- one that prioritizes equity and fairness along with public safety and smart resource allocation.

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JHA urges the State of Virginia to pass and implement HB 2325, creating the Office of Department of Corrections Ombudsman. Every jurisdiction, state, city and county, should have legislatively mandated and funded correctional oversight; there is a national need for increased transparency and to hold correctional agencies accountable for the wellbeing of people in their custody. In every jail, detention center and prison, people who have been denied their liberty should have opportunities for increased procedural fairness, safety and access to unbiased assistance.

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JHA applauds the sweeping changes to the criminal justice system that Illinois legislators approved today. These reforms will move us towards a more fair, humane, and effective criminal justice system. Improving transparency and accountability around police behavior, ending cash bond, and addressing sentencing disparities and excessiveness will make the system more fair and just.

JHA is thrilled that two initiatives we have focused on are among the reforms included in the legislation: Death in Custody Reporting and Modernization of Mandatory Supervised Release.

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