Consensus Question #13

Consensus Question #13

Consensus Questions 13a and 13b - Today’s question, which is divided into two parts, relates to Post Incarceration and Sentence Completion. The current League of Women Voters of Illinois position is stated below, followed by the updated consensus study questions on this topic.

Existing Position: NONE

Consensus Questions:

13a. Should all unnecessary barriers encountered by people with criminal records which hinder their successful return to society after completion of sentences be removed?

13b. Should people with criminal records have access to the same income-based support opportunities and services that are available to others in society and for which they would otherwise qualify?

PRO: The goal for both society and people returning to society from the oversight of the criminal justice system should be a successful reentry. Yet a significant number of people recidivate back to prison. Nearly 40% of people return to prison within three years, each time costing over $150,000.

This high rate of recidivism is caused in great measure because people with criminal records (PWCR) quite often have little preparation for reentering society. Once released, not only is little support received, there are significant barriers imposed.

Unnecessary barriers that hinder people with criminal records from returning to society after sentence completion should be removed. We continue to punish even after a sentence has been served.

Barriers include:

  • Burden of being a felon. This includes disclosure on forms such as job and housing applications.

    Background checks reveal a criminal record to potential employers and others as well.

  • Debt barriers. Often individuals are fined and find themselves in a catch-22 situation. Electronic

    monitoring is one example. If you don’t do what the court has ordered, you are in violation. You don’t have the money. You can’t get a job. You have no place to stay. Financing the court system began shifting in the 1970s from taxpayer to the one convicted. Citizens are penalized for their poverty.

  • Housing barriers. Re-entry housing can significantly reduce recidivism, help stabilize neighborhoods, and return thousands of individuals to a productive life. Currently, restrictions on housing for exiting prisoners are so severe that many individuals must stay in prison. Others become homeless.

  • Employment barriers. People with criminal records often have poor educational preparation and therefore limited employment opportunities. Add that to “have you ever been convicted” on your job application.

  • Difficulty in pursuing higher education. Admission to college requires financial resources, and the application may include a box to disclose a felony conviction.

    There are solutions:

  • The final report of the Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform (CJSR) has recommended enhanced rehabilitative programming in IDOC to better equip people returning to society and the removal of unnecessary barriers to occupations requiring licenses.

  • Restoring Pell Grants

  • Legislation to incentivize employers and landlords to employ and rent to PWCR

  • “Ban the Box” on applications for employment and college

  • Liberalize the requirements for the expungement and sealing of records

  • Taxpayers resume their responsibility for funding the court system

  • Invest in underserved communities so that the conditions that breed crime in communities from

    which PWCR come and back to which PWCR often return are addressed.

    The most important solution is for the public to change its mindset and behavior toward PWCR. It is in the public’s interest to assist PWCR to successfully reenter society. They need to be welcomed and treated with respect.

    CON: Even though someone has completed their sentence, they may still pose a danger to the community. Those convicted of certain crimes forfeit their rights forever.

    ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

    The High Cost of Recidivism

    https://spac.icjia-api.cloud/uploads/Illinois_Result_First-The_High_Cost... 20191106T18123262.pdf

    The Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform

    http://www.icjia.org/cjreform2015/pdf/CJSR_Final_Report_Dec_2016.pdf

    15 ideas for expanding housing options for exiting prisoners are offered in Re-entry Housing Issues in Illinois, Illinois Justice Project https://www.metroplanning.org/uploads/cms/documents/re-entry_housing_iss...

    The Sex Offender Registry was created in response to the Illinois Legislature's determination to facilitate access to publicly available information about persons convicted of sex offenses. ISP has not considered or assessed the specific risk of re-offense regarding any individual prior to his or her inclusion on this Registry and has made no determination that any individual included in the Registry is currently dangerous. Individuals included on the Registry are included solely by virtue of their conviction record and Illinois state law. The primary purpose of providing this information is to make the information easily available and accessible, not to warn about any specific individuals.https://isp.illinois.gov/Sor/Disclaimer

    If you would like more information on this question, please contact Donna Prepejchal, LWV of Downers Grove, Woodridge, Lisle at DPrepejcha [at] comcast.net.

This page is related to which committees: 
The Criminal Justice Study