• Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
Friday, May 9, 2025
Illinois Review
  • Login
  • Register
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • World News
  • Second Amendment
No Result
View All Result
Illinois Review
No Result
View All Result
Home Illinois News

Governor announces additional efforts to reform criminal justice system

Illinois Review by Illinois Review
October 14, 2016
in Illinois News
Reading Time: 4 mins read
A A
2
26
SHARES
431
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Presidio-modelo2 
Stateville Prison's F House, built in 1922, will officially be closed down, Rauner announced

You might also like

Kristi Noem Deports Two During Illinois Visit, Criticizes Pritzker for Sanctuary Policies During Press Conference with Victims’ Families

Pritzker Rebukes ‘Do-Nothing Democrats’ who ‘Lack Guts, Gumption’ Over Trans and Immigrant Scapegoating Following 2024 Losses

Pritzker Demands Mass Protests Against MAGA Agenda During NH Speech: ‘Republicans Cannot Know Peace’

From Governor Rauner's office Friday: 

MURPHYSBORO – Governor Bruce Rauner today announced significant steps that continue the administration’s efforts to reform the criminal justice system and reduce the rate of recidivism. He instructed the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) to repurpose the Illinois Youth Center Murphysboro into a Life Skills and Re-Entry Facility and close the F House at Stateville Correctional Center. The focus of the new minimum security facility will be preparing offenders for a successful transition out of the corrections system through educational, vocational and life skills training.

“The people of Illinois believe in redemption. We believe in second chances. All of us at one time or another have needed the opportunity to turn a wrong into a right,” Governor Rauner said. “Since coming into office, criminal justice reform has been among our top priorities. Today, I am proud to announce another step forward in our efforts to bring compassion and efficiency to our justice system. This great program will help offenders gain valuable skills that will enable them to re-enter society as productive citizens. Our hope is that the new Life Skills and Re-Entry Facility at Murphysboro will help put an end to the cycle of recidivism that plagues our criminal justice system and give offenders a real shot at a second chance.”

The Governor was joined at the Murphysboro announcement by IDOC Director John Baldwin, Senator Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville) and Representative Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro). All were crucial in making progress on this commonsense reform to Illinois’ criminal justice system.

“Reopening Murphysboro as a Life Skills Re-entry Facility just makes sense,” says IDOC Director John Baldwin. “People who complete their sentences pay their debt to society and deserve a second chance to rebuild their lives and rebuild their families. That's why we are equipping them with evidence based job skills, communication skills, and other life skills that will give them a hand up when they are released from custody.”

“The reopening of the Murphysboro IYC is welcomed news for our area. Obviously, it means jobs, but it’s also a key piece of the puzzle of criminal justice reform being sought by the Governor,” said Sen. Dave Luechtefeld (R-Okawville). “The facility will be low-risk to Murphysboro and the surrounding area. The inmates to be housed there will be nearing release and ready to head home. They will receive important life skills education that will give them hope and an opportunity to get their lives back on track. The best way to reduce recidivism is to provide inmates with the skills they need to re-enter society as full participants.”

“Reopening Murphysboro is a step in the right direction on many levels,” said Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro).  “The fact is this modern facility should have never closed; and now Governor Rauner is taking a careful, thoughtful approach towards its long-term functionality. We can now take that facility down a new path to help improve Illinois’ awful recidivism rates, creating not only correctional positions, but also positions that assist with rehabilitation, re-entry and education.  In short, this is a tremendous opportunity.”

In addition to the announcement of the Murphysboro facility’s repurposing, the Governor also announced that F House at Stateville Correctional Center will be closed. F House is one of the state’s oldest and most costly prison housing units. Built in 1922, F House is the only remaining “roundhouse” in use in the United States. It’s panopticon layout is antiquated and creates safety and operational hazards for both staff and offenders. Offenders will be moved to available vacant assignments appropriate for their designated level of supervision. Employees who currently work in F House will be reassigned to existing, vacant posts throughout the Stateville Correctional Center.

“The John Howard Association of Illinois (JHA) applauds today’s announcement by Governor Rauner to close the ‘roundhouse’, F House, at Stateville Correctional Center,” Jennifer Vollen-Katz, Executive Director of The John Howard Association said. “Closing the roundhouse is an important step for Illinois, as JHA has been reporting for several years, F House was not fit for human habitation.  The conditions of confinement in the roundhouse were wholly unacceptable and worsened by the inherently flawed panopticon design which magnified the already distressing auditory and visually chaotic experience prison frequently inflicts.”

Upon taking office, Governor Rauner established the Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform to examine criminal justice and sentencing policies, practices, and resource allocation in Illinois. They were tasked with improving public safety outcomes and reducing Illinois’ prison population by 25 percent before 2025. Last December, that bipartisan commission presented 14 recommendations to the state to help accomplish that goal. Since then, a number of those recommendations have been signed into law. In addition, the Department of Corrections (DOC) has taken executive actions to improve and expand the use of data and enact better policies to help with the rehabilitation of offenders prior to their release.

Related

Share10Tweet7
Previous Post

Rhoads: Why I agree with Trump supporters on 6 points, but not others

Next Post

Privately-funded renovations soon to commence on IL Governor’s Mansion

Illinois Review

Illinois Review

Founded in 2005, Illinois Review is the leading perspective and source of conservative news, opinion and information in Illinois. Follow Illinois Review on X at @IllinoisReview.

Recommended For You

Weyermuller: Saint Jude March for Fallen Chicago Police Officers 2025

by Mark Weyermuller
May 8, 2025
0
Weyermuller: Saint Jude March for Fallen Chicago Police Officers 2025

By Mark Weyermuller, Events ContributorLast Sunday, bag pipes and drums led a march to honor Chicago Police Officers who have died in the line of duty over the...

Read moreDetails

Kristi Noem Deports Two During Illinois Visit, Criticizes Pritzker for Sanctuary Policies During Press Conference with Victims’ Families

by Illinois Review
May 7, 2025
0
Kristi Noem Deports Two During Illinois Visit, Criticizes Pritzker for Sanctuary Policies During Press Conference with Victims’ Families

By Illinois ReviewOn Wednesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Springfield to meet with families who lost loved ones to crimes committed by undocumented immigrants – cases she...

Read moreDetails

Pritzker Rebukes ‘Do-Nothing Democrats’ who ‘Lack Guts, Gumption’ Over Trans and Immigrant Scapegoating Following 2024 Losses

by Illinois Review
May 6, 2025
0
Pritzker Rebukes ‘Do-Nothing Democrats’ who ‘Lack Guts, Gumption’ Over Trans and Immigrant Scapegoating Following 2024 Losses

By Illinois ReviewIll. Gov. JB Pritzker – a progressive liberal who inherited billions from his family’s hotel business, is attacking his own party for blaming far-left progressive policies...

Read moreDetails

Pritzker Demands Mass Protests Against MAGA Agenda During NH Speech: ‘Republicans Cannot Know Peace’

by Illinois Review
April 28, 2025
0
Pritzker Demands Mass Protests Against MAGA Agenda During NH Speech: ‘Republicans Cannot Know Peace’

By Illinois ReviewAt a Democratic dinner in New Hampshire on Sunday, Ill. Gov. JB Pritzker – a progressive liberal who inherited billions from his family’s hotel business –...

Read moreDetails

Political Earthquake Rocks Illinois as Dick Durbin Announces Retirement, Triggering a Scramble to Replace No. 2 Democrat in U.S. Senate

by Illinois Review
April 23, 2025
0
Political Earthquake Rocks Illinois as Dick Durbin Announces Retirement, Triggering a Scramble to Replace No. 2 Democrat in U.S. Senate

By Illinois ReviewIn a social media post on Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin – the nation’s No. 2 Democrat in the Senate, announced that he’s retiring after five...

Read moreDetails
Next Post

Privately-funded renovations soon to commence on IL Governor's Mansion

Please login to join discussion

Best Dental Group

Related News

IL Freedom Caucus calls on Lurie Children’s Hospital to cease gender services for kids

October 27, 2022

Beckman: Is the Brigham Young University racial slur controversy another hoax?

October 27, 2022

Salvi polling shows closer race

October 27, 2022

Browse by Category

  • America First
  • Education
  • Faith & Family
  • Foreign Policy
  • Health Care
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • Opinion
  • Science
  • Second Amendment
  • TRENDING
  • US NEWS
  • US Politics
  • World News
Illinois Review

© 2024 llinois Review LLC Editor in Chief Mark Vargas Publisher Thomas McCullagh Chief Counsel Scott Kaspar

Navigate Site

  • Checkout
  • Home
  • Home – mobile
  • Login/Register
  • Login/Register
  • My account
  • My Account-
  • My Account- – mobile

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Illinois News
  • Illinois Politics
  • US Politics
  • Health Care
  • US NEWS
  • America First
  • Opinion
  • TRENDING
  • Education
  • Foreign Policy
  • Second Amendment
  • Faith & Family
  • Science
  • World News

© 2024 llinois Review LLC Editor in Chief Mark Vargas Publisher Thomas McCullagh Chief Counsel Scott Kaspar

Are you sure want to unlock this post?
Unlock left : 0
Are you sure want to cancel subscription?