JHA Prison Population Survey 2025
- from someone incarcerated at Western Correctional Center
JHA surveys are part of our ongoing independent oversight of Illinois’ state prisons; the information and data provided to us by people in IDOC is shared publicly in order to increase transparency. The perspectives and experiences shared with JHA via these surveys are critical to better understanding the conditions and treatment inside prisons and to identifying viable, effective reform efforts.
In 2025, JHA is fielding this survey with the population at each prison facility as we conduct monitoring visits to them.
We conducted this survey by providing enough survey packets (consisting of the survey, an informed consent notice/instruction sheet, and a privileged mail prepaid business reply envelope addressed to JHA) so that every person incarcerated at each facility had an opportunity to participate in our voluntary and anonymous survey if they chose to do so.
Some questions in the 2025 JHA surveys are directly comparable to questions given on prior JHA surveys (scroll to bottom of page to view those survey results). Certain questions in the 2025 survey allowed participants to select more than one response, such as Q2. Race or Ethnicity; these are indicated in the results. Questions 14-16 required respondents to select one response on a scale from Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree. Responses to the open-ended question may be published separately in the future.
We are also currently fielding an anonymous, confidential online survey for IDOC staff; it is open to all staff at all IDOC facilities. Results will be shared when available.
JHA appreciates everyone who took the time to respond to our surveys. #YourWordsMatter