Special Reports

We publish periodic special reports highlighting case studies, stories and issues impacting our correctional system.

Explore our latest special reports below by year.

2024

 
Featured
JHA 2025 Annual Report
2026
JHA 2025 Annual Report
2026
2026
2026
Untapped Potential: The Power of Peer Support Programs in Prisons
2026
2026
2025
JHA Report on Reentry-Focused Facilities: Part 2 of 2
2025
2025
JHA 2024 Annual Report
2025
JHA 2024 Annual Report
2025
2025
2024
JHA Report on Reentry-Focused Facilities: Part 1 of 2
2024
2024
2024
Lockdowns, Overtime, and Unmet Needs: Why we must solve the current prison staffing crisis
2024
2024
Communication Impacts People in IDOC and Their Support Systems: Changes are needed to improve outcomes and daily living
2024
Communication Impacts People in IDOC and Their Support Systems: Changes are needed to improve outcomes and daily living
2024
2024
JHA 2023 Annual Report
2024
JHA 2023 Annual Report
2024
2024
JHA 2022 Annual Report (and 2023 Preview)
2023, 2022
JHA 2022 Annual Report (and 2023 Preview)
2023, 2022
2023, 2022
2022
2022 Online Commissary Survey
2022
2022
JHA 2021 Annual Report (and 2022 Preview)
2022
JHA 2021 Annual Report (and 2022 Preview)
2022
2022
Three State Prison Oversight During the COVID-19 Pandemic
2021
Three State Prison Oversight During the COVID-19 Pandemic
2021
2021
2020
IDOC MSR/Parole Population Profile (as of 12/31/20)
2020
2020
2021
Communications Response Summary Spring 2021
2021
2021
2020
IDOC Prison Population Profile (as of 12/31/2020)
2020
2020
2021
Illinois Must Improve Standards for the Care of Youth in Detention and Strengthen Juvenile Justice Oversight
2021
2021
2021
2020 JHA Annual Report (and 2021 Preview)
2021
2021
2020
“Location, Location, Location": How Where a Prisoner is Housed Influences the Prison Disciplinary Process
2020
2020
2020
Reimagining Justice - Examining Best Practices Centered Around Human Dignity in Germany
2020
2020
2020, 2019
2019 JHA Annual Report (and 2020 Preview)
2020, 2019
2020, 2019
2019
Prisoner Access to the Court and Adequate Law Libraries
2019
2019
2019
The Trouble with Reentry: Five Takeaways from Working with People Returning to Chicago from Prison
2019
2019
2019
Communications Issues Update
2019
2019
Screen Shot 2019-07-18 at 10.42.48 AM.png
2018
Punishment That Doesn't Fit the Crime: Stories of People Living on the Margins
2018
2018
2018
Case Study: JHA's Legal Literacy Clinics
2018
2018
Screen Shot 2019-07-18 at 10.33.08 AM.png
2018
Know Your Rights: Voting with a Criminal Record
2018
2018
2017
Kane County Juvenile Justice Center Monitoring Report
2017
2017
2017
Next Steps on the Path to Juvenile Justice Reform
2017
2017
2017
2016 Prison Monitoring Project Summary and Recommendations
2017
2017
2016
Gender-Informed Practice Assessment at Logan Correctional Center
2016
2016

2024

Featured
JHA Report on Reentry-Focused Facilities: Part 1 of 2
Lockdowns, Overtime, and Unmet Needs: Why we must solve the current prison staffing crisis
Communication Impacts People in IDOC and Their Support Systems: Changes are needed to improve outcomes and daily living
JHA 2023 Annual Report

2023

Featured
JHA 2022 Annual Report (and 2023 Preview)

2022

Featured
JHA 2022 Annual Report (and 2023 Preview)
2022 Online Commissary Survey
JHA 2021 Annual Report (and 2022 Preview)

2021

Featured
Three State Prison Oversight During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Communications Response Summary Spring 2021
Illinois Must Improve Standards for the Care of Youth in Detention and Strengthen Juvenile Justice Oversight
2020 JHA Annual Report (and 2021 Preview)

2020

Featured
IDOC MSR/Parole Population Profile (as of 12/31/20)
IDOC Prison Population Profile (as of 12/31/2020)
“Location, Location, Location": How Where a Prisoner is Housed Influences the Prison Disciplinary Process
Reimagining Justice - Examining Best Practices Centered Around Human Dignity in Germany
2019 JHA Annual Report (and 2020 Preview)

2019

Featured
2019 JHA Annual Report (and 2020 Preview)
Prisoner Access to the Court and Adequate Law Libraries
The Trouble with Reentry: Five Takeaways from Working with People Returning to Chicago from Prison
Communications Issues Update
 

2018

 
Special Reports
Punishment That Doesn't Fit the Crime: Stories of People Living on the Margins
Case Study: JHA's Legal Literacy Clinics
Know Your Rights: Voting with a Criminal Record
 

2017

 
Special Reports
Kane County Juvenile Justice Center Monitoring Report
Next Steps on the Path to Juvenile Justice Reform
2016 Prison Monitoring Project Summary and Recommendations
 

2016

 
Special Reports
Gender-Informed Practice Assessment at Logan Correctional Center
Summary and Guide to IDOC's Mental Health Settlement in Rasho
Report on Promoting Transparency and Accountability in Juvenile Detention Facilities: Depke Complex
Briefing on 17-year-olds in Illinois' Adult Prison
 
 

2014

 
 
Special Reports
Changing Directions: A Roadmap for Reforming Illinois' Prison System
In Their Own Words: Young People’s Experiences in the Criminal Justice System and Their Perceptions of Its Legitimacy
 

2013

 
Special Reports
Reforming Illinois' Prison System from the Inside Out
Moving Beyond Transition: Ten Findings and Recommendations on the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice
 

2012

 
Special Reports
Unasked Questions, Unintended Consequences: Fifteen Findings and Recommendations on Illinois' Prison Healthcare System
 

2011

 
Special Reports
Year-End Assessment of Department of Juvenile Justice
Incarcerated Youth and Childhood Trauma
 

2010

 
Special Reports
Time to put politics aside and fix our prison system
Cook County Juvenile Detention Center: Heading in the right direction, but still a long road ahead
Video visits for Illinois inmates and families
Cuts in Prison Education put Illinois at Risk
Crowding and Conditions of Confinement at the Cook County Department of Corrections
Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice Summary Report 2009
 

2009

 
Special Reports
Staffing Levels in the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice