Decarcerate Illinois

We call on Illinois lawmakers to take a realistic view of what community safety means and how to achieve it. Our current systems have been failing individuals, families, and communities for generations. The needs of survivors are not being met and the current system disrespects and harms accused and convicted people, making them and their families unsafe. We can no longer condone the harms of our current laws and allow them to continue to separate families and perpetuate harm for generations. Let's act!

From commitment to action! Please support bills that offer a truly progressive step forward in ending our reliance on carceral policies and toward proven policies for community safety for all.

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SUPPORT HB3668

Apr 12, 2014 | by admin

√ CHECK. WE DID THIS! SUPPORT HB3668: elderly prisoners who pose no threat to society should be released

HB3668 enables elderly prisoners (at least 50 years old) imprisoned for 25 or more consecutive years to petition for modification of their sentences by the Prisoner Review Board.

Numerous national studies demonstrate that prisoners over 50 years of age who have served substantial sentences have virtually no recidivism rate for violent crimes and a negligible recidivism rate for violation of parole agency rules. HB3668 will make the prisons safer for both staff and inmates by providing an incentive for good behavior by inmates.

HB3668 will also reduce overcrowding and save money. There is no social good in keeping elderly people who have demonstrated rehibilitation in prison at a cost to taxpayers of $70,000/year. Ask your representatives to SUPPORT HB3668!

[Photo credit: Tim Gruber, “Photos: Too Old for Prison” in Mother Jones]