2025 IDOC Staff Survey

The John Howard Association (JHA) independently monitors Illinois’ prisons and advances reforms needed to achieve a more fair, humane and effective criminal justice system. JHA is a citizen monitor of prisons and jails. JHA is an independent, not for profit organization; it is not a part of IDOC or any other state agency.

JHA is surveying each prison’s population in conjunction with our prison visits and also conducting an anonymous online survey of staff to collect people’s opinions about this prison. This staff survey is comprised of mostly multiple-choice responses with some room for comments. 

Notes:

  • JHA is using this survey to collect staff members’ opinions about the prison they work in. The information JHA collects through this survey will be used to inform the public and policymakers about your workplace prison conditions. If you choose to participate, it will be greatly appreciated. In order to achieve our goal of being an effective monitor of IDOC, it is essential that we hear from IDOC staff.

  • This survey is voluntary. You do not have to fill out a survey if you do not want to. You may stop filling out the survey if you decide you no longer want to participate after starting, or skip any questions that you do not want to answer or that do not apply to you. Whether or not you choose to complete a survey, or how you answer questions on the survey, will not have any negative or positive effect on your employment status. Submission of the survey will be considered as your consent to participate.

  • The online survey is completely anonymous; it cannot be traced. The only information JHA will receive after you submit the survey are the results or responses to the questions. JHA does not use survey software that tracks the IP address of your computer/cell phone. Please do not write your name or badge number in the survey to ensure the survey remains anonymous. JHA will redact any parts of comments that may make someone identifiable.

  • Only JHA staff will see the individual survey results after they are submitted. IDOC administrators or staff will not read your completed survey. JHA may publish quotes from survey responses but will omit any identifying information. Only the collective results of the surveys will be made publicly available.

  • If you have questions or concerns about this survey, you may contact JHA. Thank you very much for your time and input.

  • You can view JHA’s past IDOC staff survey results and reports on staffing here: