Welcome

We are delighted that you are here. Thank you for

your patience as we do our best to operate smoothly
in this unconventional setting.

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

 
The Justice Debate League exists to form debate teams behind bars. We work to welcome Stateville Correctional Center Public Debate
incarcerated people into the competitive debate community and empower the voices of
people who are rarely heard in our society.

You can find out more about the League at justicedebateleague.org.

If you would like a digital copy of this program, please e-mail your request to
justicedebateleague@gmail.com.
 Agenda
All  opinions,  statements,  materials  and  ideas  expressed  in  this  
forum  are  those  of  the  participants  and  do  not  and  are  not  intended  
to  reflect  the  views  of  the  Illinois  Department  of  Corrections.  
Welcome
9
Opening Remarks  
Opening Remarks
9
10
Debate
9:30 Debate
10:30
Resolution: The state of Illinois should establish a parole
board to evaluate for release all current and future Resolution: The state of Illinois should establish a parole system to
incarcerated people. evaluate for release all current and future incarcerated people.
Government Opposition
Government Opposition
Prime Leader of
Al Ameen Louie
Minister Opposition Leader of
Prime Minister Eugene Luigi
Opposition
Deputy
Deputy Prime
Howard Leader of Tall Mike
Minister Deputy Prime Deputy Leader
Opposition Howard Michael
Minister of Opposition
Member of Member of
Mike Raúl
Government Opposition Member of Member of
Mike Raúl
Government Opposition
Government Opposition
Raheem Tony
Whip Whip Government Opposition
Richard Alfred
Whip Whip

Q&A
Meet and Greet
12
11:30
Meet and Greet
Optional Tour 12:30

Optional Tour
Team Member Bios
Complete bios for each team member can be made available upon request. Bios here are
abridged.
Luigi
.
I am 36 years old, and am currently serving a 38-year sentence for 1st degree murder, of
which I have already served about 10 years. I am originally from the northwest suburbs of
Chicago. The most important things in my life are my faith and my family. Before my
incarceration in late December of 2007, I was president of a property management firm, as
well as an owner/operator of various other small businesses all around Chicagoland. I am
an avid reader, natural problem solver and critical thinker.
.
Since my conviction, I have become dedicated to self-betterment learning as much as I can
about whatever subjects I can get my hands on. As of this writing, I have earned 137
certificates or diplomas from classes, courses, or seminars I have taken while incarcerated.
I have also become a certified paralegal from the Black Stone Career Institute and have
earned an associate’s degree in theology from Calvary Christian College in South Bend, IN,
with a bachelor degree in the same forthcoming in January of 2018.
.
I am fairly conservative in my beliefs and opinions, and I try to view all issues through the
lens of my faith in the Messiah Yeshua Ben Elohim.
Louie was incarcerated at age 26, though he was 19 years old when the crime was
committed, and his release is set for 2045 at age 64.
~Luigi Adamo R74391
Richard*
I am Richard Morris, 43 years old. I’ve been incarcerated for 22 years.
.
I was wrongfully convicted of first degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated
vehicular hijacking for which I was sentenced to death. That sentence was commuted by
Governor George Ryan. In 2004, the Illinois Supreme Court overturned my conviction and
granted me a new trial due to ineffective assistance of counsel.
.
Unfortunately, I was once again convicted and given a sentence which I am appealing.
. lectures, and teaches both Islamic studies and Arabic. His nickname “Al Ameen” comes
I would like to be seen as someone worthy of the time and effort that goes into the type of
assistance I am hoping for.
Raheem was incarcerated at age 21. He was originally on death row, but his release is
now set for 2048 at age 75.
~Richard Morris B65709
Michael*
My name is Michael Sullivan, I’m 46 years old. I have been incarcerated since I was 21
years old. I am a father of 4 children and a grandfather of 7. My parents are still alive and
have supported me throughout this ordeal. I also have a supportive fiancée. I am an
artistic painter and animator as well as a writer. I have illustrated a children’s book for my
think tank class here at Stateville. I am also currently writing two books. The first is a
children’s book titled “THE TOOLS OF CHESS: The Cognitive Developmental Process.” The
second is “The Restoration of Justice.” It is similar to a dissertation and is based on a
restorative justice class I attended here at Stateville.
.
Lastly, I want to state that I believe that Illinois should bring back the parole board because
you’ll discover that a second chance for many will be morally right, and you’ll see that many
of us, like myself, will be an asset to our society.
Tall Mike was incarcerated at age 22 in 1992 and he is ineligible for parole.
~Michael Sullivan B67920
Eugene*
Eugene is one of Illinois’ juvenile lifers. He has been incarcerated for the last 21 years.
.
Eugene was hand-selected by his peers – being one out of 1,300 others (for only 12
available seats) chosen to represent Stateville’s debate team; being one of the prison’s
“best and brightest”. This is one of many accomplishments he has had while incarcerated.
He has completed multiple classes and programs, contributed to children’s books,
dedicated himself to mentoring youth, and spearheaded a “My Life Matters” letter writing
campaign among fellow prisoners which resulted in an event at DePaul University and a
national invitation to a restorative justice conference held in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. The
work was presented there to a national restorative justice and educational panel.
.
Eugene’s impeccable leadership and communication skills were on full display as he
coached his team to a championship in comeback fashion in the prison’s inaugural March
Madness basketball tournament.
.
In addition to these involvements, Eugene is a Muslim by faith and is very active in the
prison’s Islamic community. He leads the weekly Friday prayer service, gives weekly
from Arabic and means “truthful and trustworthy”.
Eugene was incarcerated at age 20 in 1997 and he is ineligible for parole.
~ Eugene Ross K73977
Raúl*
Raúl Dorado is an incarcerated student and author. He is serving a life without parole
sentence under the legal theory of accountability. He is working towards a bachelor’s
degree from the University Without Walls sponsored by Northeastern Illinois University. He
has published poetry, essays and articles including, “In Mind’s Eye,” “The Skiff,” “The
Presumption of Justice: Capitalism and Alchemists” and “Plea Bargains: A Fair Deal or Fair
Game.”
Raúl was incarcerated at age 19 in 1998 and he is ineligible for parole.
~ Raúl Dorado K53842
Howard
Howard Keller was a former high school drop-out and alcohol abuser who turned his life
completely around. Today he is a GED and vocational tutor, published writer, poet, and
advocate for higher education in prison. He is also a barber by trade. A staunch believer
in the transformative power of education, Howard uses the barbering platform to engage
others in critical dialogue about the importance of education, and to provide valued one-
on-one tutoring to men with unique learning needs.
.
Howard is currently a visiting student of North Park Theological Seminary. His hope is to
become a full-time student there, complete an M.A. in Christian Ministry, and one day work
with organizations that provide counseling and assistance to young people with alcohol
addictions.
. .
Howard is a positive force both inside and outside of the prison system. His compassion
and desire to serve others is what makes him a great leader.
Howard was incarcerated at age 21, and his release is set for 2055 at age 77.
~ Howard Keller K67292
Mike*
My name is Michael Simmons. I have three siblings, two older brothers and a younger
sister. My earliest memory as a child was being told that my dad had been shot and killed.
I was 6 ½ years old. Unfortunately for me, my aunt did not possess any tact in informing
me of the bad news. “That damn prostitute got yo daddy shot in the head,” she told me.
.
Growing up, we were often on the move as my mother struggled to keep a roof over our
heads. At one point, we lived in the Henry Hornet projects on Chicago’s west side. The
hornets was probably one of the worst places to live in the city. It was like a super over-
crowded prison where there was constant battle between the mice and roaches for space
and bread. It was in the hornets, while loading into my mother’s friend’s minivan, getting
ready to go to church, that I first saw someone get shot multiple times at point-blank
range.
.
Church was a regular in my family. After the passing of my grandfather in ’86, my
grandmother, Ollie Mae Simmons, became an ordained minister with her apartment serving
as her church. My mom would take us to live with grandma when we couldn’t afford rent
which was quite often.
.
My brother Darryl got involved with the gang crowd in middle school. He would have his
friends over while mom worked, which was basically all of the time. They would drink and
smoke and listen to rap music. I was fascinated with the name-brand clothes, gold chains,
and Michael Jordan shoes. Oh yeah, and the cars they drove. I wanted to be just like
them.
.
It wasn’t long before I started getting into trouble myself. I was in the sixth grade when I
first joined the gang. I didn’t have to go through the so-called ritual of taking an oath like
most gangs did. Because my brother was respected, I was welcomed right on in. I always
knew that, deep inside, the person I knew I was on the inside never fit the gang-banging
lifestyle that I was living, yet it was hard for me to remove the mask that allowed me to be
accepted.
.
I can go forever long about the things that I’ve experienced, things that have left me
wondering how or why I am still alive today. Not only alive, but so much better and wiser
than I knew I was capable of being. I’ve been in prison for nearly sixteen years, convicted
of armed robbery, and murder under accountability theory.
The son of the victim in my case who, like myself, lost his dad to a senseless act at such a
young age, and his mother, Mrs. McKinley, have all had the most profound impact on my
life. Mrs. McKinley, in her victim impact statement, at what had to be one of the most
difficult times in her life, stated that she hoped that I would someday make my life count for
something. They, along with my family support, for which I am grateful, have been and
continue to be the strength of my resolve to do everything in my power to honor the victim
in my case and his family. I believe that the things that I’ve been through will somehow
serve a greater cause and this allows me to remain hopeful and able to have a peace of
mind and continue to push for greatness even when my circumstance begs otherwise.
Mike was incarcerated at age 24, and his release is set for 2052 at age 74.
~ Michael Simmons K58311

Joe*
Joseph Dole has won numerous awards for his writing, including most recently a first-place
aware in the 2017 Columbia Journal Writing Contest. He is the author of the books “A
Costly American Hatred” and “Control Units and Supermaxes: A National Security Threat”.
He has been published in a number of academic journals, including the Mississippi review,
The Columbia Journal, The Journal of Ethical Urban Living, and the Journal Justice Power,
and Resistance, as well as in numerous other print media and online. More of his work is
available at his facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/JosephDoleIncarceratedWriter/.
He is currently serving a life-without-parole sentence at Stateville Correctional Center. He
spent nearly a decade of his life in isolation at the notorious Tamms Supermax Prison.
Recently, he was granted a scholarship by the Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund in recognition
of his activism.
Joe was incarcerated at age 22 and is ineligible for parole.
~Joseph Dole K84446
Les
Born in 1980 in the ghettos of Chicago, Les grew up with five brothers. As his dad carried
the burden of child support for his three half-sisters, their family always struggled
financially, which contributed to his having moved five times, transferring schools eight
times, dropping out of school and leaving home all by age 14. The gang he entered
trained him to sell crack cocaine and heroin, and excessively abuse marijuana and alcohol.
Over the next two years, he had a number of encounters with Chicago police officers in
which he was threatened, assaulted, and physically and emotionally abused. At age 16, he
was arrested as a juvenile, and was subsequently incarcerated twice more for parole
violations. He was on parole for 5 months before his fourth and final arrest, and has now
been in prison continuously since age 19. Since his incarceration, he has committed
himself to self-improvement through the rigorous pursuit of faith and education. He wants
to become the best man he possibly can for God and every person who is connected to his
life.
Les was incarcerated at age 19, and his release is set for 2050 at age 70.
~ Lester Dobbey R16237
Oscar*
Oscar Parham is also known as Smiley. He likes to be called Smiley because the name
depicts his easy-going personality. Despite his circumstances, he has maintained a
positive attitude.
.
Oscar was 18 years old when his crime occurred. He has served 28 years of a mandatory
natural life sentence for guilt by association, under the theory of accountability. Since he
has been incarcerated, he has striven to better himself even though the natural life
sentence took away all incentive to do so. From the beginning, he has taken every class
that has been available to him.
.
Oscar also became a man of faith while in Menard. His faith is a major part of who he is.
.
During a class that Oscar took with Professor Jennifer Lackey of Northwestern University on
Mass Incarceration, he was one of five students chosen to have an article he wrote
published by the New Yorker. During the mass incarceration class, Oscar also met U.S.
Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky who wrote an op-ed in the Chicago Sun Times titled,
“Natural Life for Young Offenders is Indefensible”. In this op-ed Mrs. Schakowsky makes
mention of the atrocity of Oscar being given a natural life sentence after being offered an
unconditional eleven-year plea. Had Smiley taken the eleven-year plea, he would have
served 50% of his time and been home in 1995.
Oscar was incarcerated at age 20 and is ineligible for parole.
~Oscar Parham N95863
Benard
Hello, my name is Benard McKinley. I’m 32 years old. I presently reside at Stateville
Correctional Center. I was born and raised on the west side of Chicago. At the age of 16
years I was charged with first degree murder. I was later convicted and sentenced to 100
years in the Department of Corrections. While incarcerated, I dedicated my time as a
motivational speaker to the incarcerated youth. Since my incarceration, I have become a
paralegal and a proud member of the National Lawyers Guild.
.
In January 2016, the Federal 7th Circuit Appellate Court ruled that my sentence was a de
facto life sentence. Since that decision, I have been back in state court, and in the process
of having my time vacated and resentenced in light of the US Supreme Court Miller case
decision.
.
Since my incarceration, I have focused on bettering myself physically, mentally, and
spiritually. I look forward to giving back to my community, and becoming a productive
citizen, given this second chance at my physical freedom. Until that day I continue to
evolve into a better man than I was yesterday.
Benard was incarcerated at age 16, and his release is set for 2101 at age 116.
~Benard McKinley R30033
Alfred* club in my area. I want to name it after my younger brother who was an excellent
basketball player and was recently murdered.
Hello my name is Alfred Moore Bey. I am a flesh and blood human being. I am not a
criminal, inmate, or offender, because these things are human deficiencies – an inherent I am 100% innocent of the charge for which I am convicted. My case is back in court and I
mentality. Raised in poverty, I suffered from inadequacies and lived with deficiencies most should be proven innocent soon.
of my life. I am 49 years old, currently residing at Stateville Correctional Center, serving a
100 year sentence under the Accountability theory, 20 years now. I was 31 years old when I was given a 45-year sentence. Some would call this a life
sentence. I call it a death sentence.
 
 
 
I know man has the ability to change, because I did it. Given the right opportunity, tools
and guidance with the right attitude, I developed the right mentality. Carnell was incarcerated at age 30. His release is set for 2046 at age 76.
~Carnell Fitzpatrick Sr. R11310
Initiated into manhood at the late age of 33, I’ve learned it is not how much I can
accumulate or accomplish that makes me a man, but understanding how to use my
achievements to help others. For the last 20 years, I’ve worked to be a Sheik in the If you are interested in contacting any of the debate team
Moorish Science Temple of America (M.S.T of A) motivational Speaker, mentor to our youth members, you can do so via mail at:
and young adults and athletic coordinator. However, these achievements are secondary.
For me, learning how to be a father, son, brother, uncle and friend with hopes of becoming Full Name – IDOC Number
a husband, are my most proud achievements for me, family, community, state, country and Stateville Correctional Center
all humanity. I exhibit the attributes of a human being who has learned to heal my soul and
ask you to help me, to help others to learn to exhibit the attributes of humanity (justice for
P.O. Box 112
all). “Know thyself.” Joliet, IL 60434
Full names and IDOC numbers are listed at the bottom of each individual’s bio. When you contact
Alfred was incarcerated at age 31 and his release is set for 2089 at age 120. them, please expect at least 40 days before receiving a response. The process of screening mail
~Alfred Moore N80845 that comes in and out of the facility causes multiple weeks of delay.

Carnell Fitzpatrick Sr.

My name is Carnell Fitzpatrick Sr. I am 47 years old. I have 4 kids and 5 grandchildren.
My mother is my sole living parent. I have been incarcerated for 17 years. My first 10
years were spent at Menard where I worked in the kitchen for 7 years for $19.90/month.
Obviously I wasn’t working for pay – more for recreation and movement. Unfortunately,
Menard had no programs to offer other than GED, so other than working, I mainly worked
on my case and studied business. During my 7 years here at Stateville, I have completed 2
college courses from DePaul, earning a B in Restorative Justice and an A in Masculinity and
Social Justice. I am now waiting to attend DePaul’s final class. I have a huge passion for
our youth and community. I coached basketball for 14-16-year-old boys in 1996-1998,
taking them from our area on the west side of Chicago to tournaments all over the city. I
felt the need to expose those teenagers to something positive in contrast to the negativity
that surrounded us. Most of them had never been anywhere outside of our Austin
Community. I want to continue working with our youth and someday open a boys and girls
Definitions
*Accountability Theory
Criminal liability is painted with a broad brush. One can easily be found guilty for a criminal
act that they did not commit. Further, one can be found guilty for a criminal act that one did
not know was even going to happen.
For example, a person who is told about a murder that was previously committed is
obligated to report what they have heard to the authorities. Rather than a separate
distinction such as “the failure to report”, if this person does not report what they have
heard, they are considered fully culpable for the crime itself. He or she will be charged and
convicted as a murderer and sentenced to 40 years - with no hope for early parole.
*Note: All team members who are convicted under accountability theory are denoted with
an asterisk. This means that though everyone on this team is convicted as a “violent
offender”, these men did not commit any acts of violence.
Article 1 Section 2 of the Illinois Constitution
Due Process and Equal Protection
“No person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law nor be
denied the equal protection of the laws.”
Article 1 Section 11
Limitation of Penalties After Conviction
“All penalties shall be determined both according to the seriousness of the offense and
with the objective of restoring the offender to useful citizenship. No conviction shall work
corruption of blood or forfeiture of estate. No person shall be transported out of the State
for an offense committed within the State.”
Article 1 Section 12
Right to Remedy and Justice
“Every person shall find a certain remedy in the laws for all injuries and wrongs which he
receives to his person, privacy, property or reputation. He shall obtain justice by law, freely,
completely, and promptly.”
De Facto Life Sentence
A sentence that is not labeled as “life” or “life without parole” but that is what the sentence
amounts to.
Determinate Sentencing
A jail or prison sentence that is definite and not subject to review by a parole board or
other agency.
In contrast, an indeterminate sentence (such as 20 years to life) has a minimum term but
the release date, if any, will be chosen by a parole board as it periodically reviews the case.
Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC)
Created in 1970, this department runs all 44 adult correctional facilities in the state.
Mandatory Sentencing
Particular crimes yield automatic sentences regardless of extenuating circumstances.
Mandatory Supervised Release (MSR)
MSR in Illinois operates like parole does in other states. The difference is that it happens
after the completion of the legally-mandated prison sentence. Under MSR, people remain
under the legal custody of the IDOC, subject to being retaken at any time. This occurs
during the first period of an individual’s freedom.
Overcrowding
To fill beyond what is usual or comfortable. In the Illinois prison system, this would mean
exceeding their residential capacity of approximately 28,000. On August 31, 2017, the
IDOC reported a residential population of 42,654. At 151%, this makes Illinois prisons #1
in the US for overcrowding.
Even so, this is a notable improvement from 1993 when Illinois prisons were built to house
16,000 inmates, yet had a population of 32,000.
Parole
The release of a prisoner before the completion of a sentence on the promise of good
behavior.
Parole Board
A panel of appointed members who decide whether an offender should be released from
prison on parole after serving at least a minimum portion of their sentence.
Prisoner Review Board (PRB)
The PRB imposes release conditions for offenders exiting penal facilities, revokes and
restores good conduct credits from inmates, conducts hearings to determine whether
parolees have violated conditions of parole, and awards certificates of Relief from
Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct. The PRB notifies victims and their families
when an inmate is about to be released from custody. The Board also makes confidential
recommendations to the Governor relative to executive clemency petitions.

Recidivism
The tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend. Some also “recidivate” not by re-
offending, but by violating terms of parole or probation.

Truth In Sentencing (TIS)

In Illinois, TIS means that people convicted of murder serve 100% of their sentence, and
people convicted of other violent crimes serve at least 85%. Prior to the passage of this
law in 1998, these people served an average of 44% of their sentences.

Natural Life Sentence or Life Without Parole

The convicted person will die behind bars. Like the majority of people who are sentenced
to death in the United States, they will die in prison of natural causes. The differences are
that it costs less to incarcerate someone this way than to hold them on death row, and
someone serving life without parole has almost no chance of their case being reconsidered
or overturned, whereas that is much more common in cases where people are sentenced
to death. Some argue that life without parole is also a death sentence – especially
considering harsh prison conditions, a lack of healthcare, and a decreased life expectancy
for prisoners. While the death penalty employs active euthanasia, life without parole is
passive euthanasia. Others argue it is a merciful alternative to a death sentence.
History of Parole in IL the longest sentences have no capacity to earn time off their sentences
regardless of rehabilitative engagement or demonstrated personal
The first parole was granted in the state of IL in 1895. The State Board of transformation.
Pardons was established in 1897 in order to set conditions under which According to Governor Rauner’s Commission on Criminal Justice and
parole could be granted, to actually grant parole, and to determine parole Sentencing Reform, since this shift, Illinois governors have tried a variety of
violations. Across the next 80 years, this power and responsibility was ways to address the resulting increase in the prison population. Two
passed around to different departments, and the board ranged in size from governors created task forces on prison overcrowding, some tried diverting
five to nine members. By 1977, the Parole and Pardon Board was housed low-level offenders, some built new prisons. They also tried expanding
in the Department of Corrections. good-time sentence credits and focusing on reentry with the goal of
The IDOC had just been created in 1970. That year, in his address to the reducing recidivism. Despite all of these attempts, our prison population
76th General Assembly, Governor Ogilvie said this: jumped from 10,000 in 1977 to 49,000 in 2015. This figure makes Illinois
prisons #1 in the US for overcrowding at 151% capacity.
“In recommending this department, I emphasize this: we must break the
present cycle of arrest, incarceration and release, which in a majority of This year, on the 40-year anniversary of the abolishment of parole in this
cases is repeated over and over again. We are faced with the most state, the Illinois General Assembly has proposed House Bill 531. If passed,
difficult of all tasks–the understanding and changing of human behavior– this would establish parole for any offender under the age of 21 with a
and we must approach our job with a full awareness of the failure of past sentence over 10 years – for anyone who offends after the bill has been
policies. passed. We applaud the heart of the bill. It recognizes the importance of
"In Illinois we keep our adult felons incarcerated for periods longer than
giving offenders an incentive to change and shows confidence in the
45 other states, yet our rate of recidivism, or return to prison, is one of
the highest. We speak of rehabilitation, but we provide only one rehabilitative capacity of incarcerated people.
vocational officer to every 50 custodial officers at Joliet. We have given
our state a half-way house program and work release programs, but we
have not given a full professional department to administer these
programs.”
One would hope that this spirit of rehabilitation and institutional
improvement would have inspired positive change in the IDOC, but in 1977,
the Parole and Pardon Board was abolished and the Prisoner Review Board
(PRB) created in its stead. Thus, Illinois abolished indeterminate
sentencing. This means that every person who has committed an offense in
Illinois serves a set amount of time that is determined entirely by the
offense for which they are convicted, regardless of extenuating
circumstances – including their level of involvement in the crime. Judges
have no authority to lengthen or shorten sentences, and offenders serving
Relevant  Groups   John  Howard  Association  
  JHA  independently  monitors  correctional  facilities,  policies  and  
Illinois  Criminal  Justice  Information  Authority     practices,  and  advances  reforms  needed  to  achieve  a  fair,  humane  
Created  in  1983,  the  Illinois  Criminal  Justice  Information  Authority  is   and  effective  criminal  justice  system  in  Illinois.  
a  state  agency  dedicated  to  improving  the  administration  of   JHA’s  vision  for  Illinois  is  to  achieve  a  smaller,  rehabilitative  criminal  
criminal  justice.  The  Authority  brings  together  key  leaders  from  the   justice  system  that  supports  incarcerated  individuals  so  they  may  
justice  system  and  the  public  to  identify  critical  issues  facing  the   return  to  society  as  productive  citizens.  
criminal  justice  system  in  Illinois,  and  to  propose  and  evaluate   http://www.thejha.org  
policies,  programs,  and  legislation  that  address  those  issues.  The    

agency  also  works  to  ensure  the  criminal  justice  system  in  Illinois  is   Prisoner  Review  Board  
efficient  and  effective.    http://www.icjia.state.il.us   The  Illinois  Prisoner  Review  Board  (PRB)  is  a  separate  entity  from  
  the  Illinois  Department  of  Corrections.  The  PRB  is  an  independent  
Illinois  Department  of  Corrections   body  whose  members  are  appointed  by  the  Governor  of  Illinois.  The  
"The  mission  of  the  Department  of  Corrections  is  to  protect  the   PRB  imposes  release  conditions  for  offenders  exiting  penal  facilities,  
public  from  criminal  offenders  through  a  system  of  incarceration   revokes  and  restores  good  conduct  credits  from  inmates,  conducts  
and  supervision  which  securely  segregates  offenders  from  society,   hearings  to  determine  whether  parolees  have  violated  conditions  of  
assures  offenders  of  their  constitutional  rights  and  maintains   parole,  and  awards  certificates  of  Relief  from  Disabilities  and  
programs  to  enhance  the  success  of  offenders'  reentry  into  society."   Certificates  of  Good  Conduct.  The  PRB  notifies  victims  and  their  
https://www.illinois.gov/idoc/aboutus/Pages/IllinoisDepartmentofC families  when  an  inmate  is  about  to  be  released  from  custody.  The  
orrectionsMissionStatement.aspx   Board  also  makes  confidential  recommendations  to  the  Governor  
 
relative  to  executive  clemency  petitions.  
Illinois  Sentencing  Policy  Advisory  Council  (SPAC)  
https://www.illinois.gov/idoc/parole/Pages/PrisonerReviewBoard.a
SPAC  was  created  to  collect,  analyze  and  present  data  from  all  
spx  
relevant  sources  to  more  accurately  determine  the  consequences  of    

sentencing  policy  decisions  and  to  review  the  effectiveness  and   Restore  Justice  Illinois  
efficiency  of  current  sentencing  policies  and  practices.  SPAC  reports   RJI  believes  in  the  possibility  of  rehabilitation,  redemption,  and  
directly  to  the  Governor  and  the  General  Assembly.   reunification  with  the  community  for  all  incarcerated  people,  even  
http://www.icjia.state.il.us/spac/index.cfm?metasection=about&m those  who  have  committed  the  most  serious  crimes.  It  is  a  civic  
etapage=frontpage   organization  founded  to  mitigate  the  human  and  fiscal  impact  of  the  
 
extreme  sentencing  laws  of  the  1980s  and  1990s,  particularly  where  
IL  Commission  on  Criminal  Justice  and  Sentencing  Reform    
they  have  impacted  children.  
Governor  Rauner  established  the  Commission  in  order  to  develop  a  
https://restorejusticeillinois.org      
comprehensive,  evidence-­‐based  strategy  to  meet  the  goal  of    

reducing  Illinois’  prison  population  25%  by  2025.   There  are  also  a  number  of  national  organizations  focused  on  criminal  
http://www.icjia.org/cjreform2015/index.html   justice  reform.    If  you  are  interested  in  a  specific  topic  –  please  ask  where  
  you  can  find  info!      
Sources  Cited  During  the  Event   “Issues  and  Solutions”  Restore  Justice  Illinois,  2016.  
https://restorejustice.org/issues-­solutions/  
“As  Arrest  Records  Rise,  Americans  Find  Consequences  Can  
Memorandum:  From  Samantha  Gaddy,  To  Kathy  Saltmarsh.          
Last  a  Lifetime”  Wall  Street  Journal,  August  18,  2014.  
RE:  Truth  in  Sentencing,  August  20,  2013.  
https://www.wsj.com/articles/as-­arrest-­records-­rise-­americans-­
find-­consequences-­can-­last-­a-­lifetime-­1408415402  
“Offender  Risk  Assessment  in  Virginia”  National  Institute  of  
Justice,  2002.  http://www.vcsc.virginia.gov/risk_off_rpt.pdf  
Illinois  Department  of  Corrections  Reports  &  Statistics  
 
https://www.illinois.gov/idoc/reportsandstatistics/Pages/Depart
“Preliminary  Findings  Concerning  the  Financial  Costs  of  
mentData.aspx    
Implementing  Illinois’  Truth-­In-­Sentencing  Laws”  Joseph  Dole,  
January  11,  2011.  
“Illinois  House  Approves  State  Budget”  Associated  Press,  July   http://realcostofprisons.org/materials/dole-­preliminary-­
7,  2017.   findings.pdf  
https://www.apnews.com/3d9b53bd21aa474cbf2deed03b885c    
6f   “Sentencing  by  a  Parole  Board:  An  Evaluation”  Northwestern  
University,  1976.  
“Illinois  Prison  Overview”  Illinois  State  Commission  on  Criminal   http://scholarlycommons.law.northwestern.edu/cgi/viewcontent
Justice  and  Sentencing  Reform,  2016.   .cgi?article=5965&context=jclc  
http://www.icjia.org/cjreform2015/research/illinois-­prison-­
overview.html   “The  Irrationality  of  Natural  Life  Sentences”  Dr.  Jennifer  
Lackey,  Northwestern  University,  New  York  Times,  February  
“Illinois  Prisoner  Review  Board  39th  Annual  Report”   1,  2016.  https://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/02/01/the-­
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/prb/Documents/prb15anlrpt.pdf     irrationality-­of-­natural-­life-­sentences/  
 
“Illinois  State  Budget  Fiscal  Year  2018”  Bruce  Rauner,   “The  Price  of  Prisons:  What  Incarceration  Costs  Taxpayers”  
February  15,  2017.   Vera  Institute  of  Justice,  January  2012.                                                                                                                        
https://www.illinois.gov/gov/budget/Documents/Budget%20Bo https://storage.googleapis.com/vera-­web-­
ok/FY2018%20Budget%20Book/FY2018OperatingBudgetBoo assets/downloads/Publications/price-­of-­prisons-­what-­
k.pdf   incarceration-­costs-­taxpayers/legacy_downloads/the-­price-­of-­
  prisons-­40-­fact-­sheets-­updated-­072012.pdf  
“Illinois  State  Commission  on  Criminal  Justice  and  Sentencing  
Reform:  Final  Report”  December  2016.  
http://www.icjia.org/cjreform2015/pdf/CJSR_Final_Report_Dec
_2016.pdf