Once again Governor Rauner is leading the charge for correctional reform in Illinois. This comes at the height of intense levels of incarceration and victimization in recent years. The overall goal for this new plan is to reduce prison populations 25% by 2025. This is a bold move and an action that has garnered much support through Illinois state legislation. It appears that our state legislation is finally coming to terms that inmates face extreme prejudice and discrimination when seeking work after being incarcerated. Offenders were coming out of prison worse off than when they went in and this is not acceptable. One of the strategies laid out by this plan is the concept of rehabilitation course certifications, and how these certifications will allow certain offenders early parole or release. This on top of other programs is a great way to lower the prison population while reducing recidivism at the same time. Obviously this type of program will be applied on a case by case basis and will not benefit serious violent offenders. Hopefully with reformations like this being put into place will help Illinois regain its spark it lost several years ago. Ghost003
I think many of our student comments will be discussing the same things. We all realize that the proposal would be immensely beneficial to our society and economy. There are little to no fallbacks, to my knowledge, that could occur with this new proposal. Rehabilitation has always fallen short among prisons because the prisons lack the funds to have adequate rehabilitation programs. However, if we had a good rehabilitation program that would benefit prisoners, then the prisoners would hopefully get a job and begin to contribute back the costs of the program to society. The program, all in all, would be nothing but beneficial and is completely necessary. Purple003
I agree the new changes are going to come as both exciting and skeptical. Not everyone is willing to change but those who are will be willing to go to any extreme to better their lives. People make mistakes and a lot of times they are thrown is prison and forgotten about. If they are given options maybe they will try improving their lives. Having sentence reductions for low level offenders for doing treatment is a great incentive. They Governor is doing a great job in trying to better our prison system.sly.003
Furthermore, the concept of rehabilitation courses is very interesting. It is important that these programs offered to inmates for early release be flushed out and thoroughly designed. If such programs are going to offer certifications that can be used for early release they must have a real chance at lowering recidivism rates and give inmates valuable skills for post release. A G.E.D program would be very beneficial as well, and I think if an inmate passes and receives their G.E.D then that should be evaluated in much the same way as these other proposed rehabilitation programs. Putting inmates on parole after these programs would be a great way to measure their success as well and would offer valuable data collection points for balancing facilities budgets. Ghost004
I think this bill has been needed for a long time. So it is a relief that Governor Rauner has signed the bill. The system is truly broken and to continue down this path is not going to help anyone. By allowing for good time for inmates completing rehabilitative services we are giving the inmate an incentive to do right. It is time for the system to move away from being so punitive to being more rehabilitative. Obviously it will depend on the type of crime committed rather or not this bill will apply to a particular inmates case. But with much of the incarcerated population being non-violent this bill can serve as a great tool to reduce the mass incarceration rates we are dealing with now. Instead focus on rehab and teaching skills to the inmates so they can be successful once released back into society. Reading this article gave me a bit of hope that all is not lost and we can revamp the system to one that actually works and does in fact keep the communities safe. I am glad that the legislation is finally agreeing that there is an issue with our criminal justice system and that they are taking action to repair it. mommy004
I agree, lowering our prison population by introducing new policies and programs to benefit good standing inmates with non-violent cases would be very effective. This new trend could save the state and taxpayers thousands if not millions of dollars in the future as well. It is imperative that we act on our current system and strive for reformation because what we have seen in recent years as far as incarceration rates is down right unacceptable. Furthermore, offering rehabilitation services to those who are released so that they can seek and find employment will be crucial to lower the recidivism rates of these released inmates. Ghost003
I think it is great that the governor is working to lower prison rates, as well as recidivism rates. Adding discretion to judge’s sentencing abilities is beneficial in my opinion because we all make mistakes, and an individual should not necessarily be given a life ruining punishment for a minor, non-violent mistake. Additionally, the governor, along with the help of others, is increasing the rehabilitation offered in prisons, including helping prisoners with self-improvement. Improving the morals of the prisoners is not only beneficial to themselves, but also our society because the prisoners will be less likely to reoffend, and they can contribute to our working society. There are incentives for the prisoners obtaining a degree or learning a trade, such as parole or early release. Reducing prison rates will also have a major positive impact on society. Prisoners and maintaining prisons is quite expensive, and Illinois is already massively in debt. Illinois cannot afford to maintain the mass amounts of prisoners we have right now. There are many benefits to this new approach, and there are little to no fallbacks to the proposal. I think this concept is something that will be beneficial to Illinois and has been needed for a long time. Purple003
I think this would be a good thing for Illinois. We need to start finding ways to not spend money. IF we need to spend money in the prison systems, we need to start trying to rehabilitate these offenders. Most of these people are repeat offenders, and soon as they are released, go back to what they was doing in the first place. Lets give them something they can be proud of. Make all prisoners learn some kind of skill or trade and send them to work. The government needs to have jobs that felons can work at. A lot of employers will not hire someone that is a felon. hotfox003
The idea of raising the morals of inmates and help guide their moral compasses can really be a noble cause and probably most effective to minor offenders. A survey should be required for inmates completing a program like the ones our governor proposes. These surveys could help us see if the program has really worked for inmates or if their just simply going through the motions for an early release. Ghost004
The goal of reducing the prison population by 25% would be a good idea if it can be done safely. By reducing the prison population through rehabilitation, the criminal justice system can save so much money. I think it is a good idea to give judges more discretion when it comes to sentencing first-time drug offenders. As long as the inmates are not violent offenders I would be okay with them being released early or being sentenced to probation instead of prison. We have to also make sure that those who break a law receive some form of punishment to help deter crime, but we have to make sure the punishment fits the crime and help (such as rehab) is offered. Adding resources for victims is another advancement in the criminal justice system; not too long ago, victim services were not addressed. By adding the policy of allowing good-time credit off sentences for prisoners who complete rehabilitative courses, the recidivism rate should greatly decline. Having those rehabilitative services can address the offender’s problem and offer solutions to keep them out of prison. Rehabilitation is a cheap and effective alternative to prison. Prison does not fix the underlying problem to the offender’s behavior. The article acknowledges that prisoners are returning back to the community worse off than when they went in. To improve the criminal justice system, improvements in the rehabilitation system can be made. Overall, the Gordon-Booth crime reform is a good idea. Scuba004
I agree with you. I have always said that offenders need a way to fit back into society. They don't know anything else than what they did to get into prison in the first place. The justice system needs to make everyone learn a trade or skill that will be able to find a job when they get out. While a lot of jobs do not hire felons, I think the government can make a deal with certain employers to hire felons IF they truly want to get out of the crime scene. hotfox003
It's great knowing that their are steps being taken to reduce the prison population. More classes and rehabilitation in prison would be a great motivator for inmates to not repeat they same behaviors. Long term rehab for inmates is also a great service to offer. Earning good time for rehabilitation classes or going to school to further their education or get their GED. If your a low level first offender why should you be sentenced like violent offenders. Having incentives is a reward and hopefully are thought of as such. A lot of programs have been canceled do to funding. If the prison population stays down their will be lower prison costs and programs can be started up again. If its proven effective in the long run more people will be supportive. I believe violent repeat offenders should not be given the same opportunities. Sly.003
I love the move of giving opportunities to those who will use it. I agree also with the repeat offenders should NOT be program you described. It is a true shame that people will use the programs not to the intention of that which they were intended. But the world isn't perfect and that's why we must have jails in the first place. USA003
I think that reducing the prison population will be a good thing. But I do believe that when they said about first time drug convictions could get probation instead of jail time, I think it just depends on the circumstances. If the person already has a history of other criminal activity, I do not think they should just get probation. It should also depend on how much of the drug they had on them. It is a great thing that someone is finally looking at a way to reduce the prison system, but how about we look into ways for these people not to come back. Mostly everyone who is in the prison system is a repeat offender. hotfox003
It is no secret that there needs to be something done about the high population of people in our state’s prisons. As a way to try to reduce the state’s prison population by 25%, Governor Bruce Rauner signed into law the Neighborhood Safety Act. This act includes many functions such as recovery services for crime victims, allowing good time credit off sentences for prisoners who complete rehabilitation courses, and will give judges added discretion for probation-only sentences in some first time drug cases. I think Gordon-Booth said it best when he stated “For too long the only response to crime in our communities has been locking people up. Today our prisons are overflowing but many people are returning back to their communities worse off than when they went in.” Many people are indeed much worse off than they were before being incarcerated. The lack of resources and programs to help offenders reintegrate back into the community without feeling like the only option they have to make any type of living is to go back to selling drugs, and thus ending up right back in prison adding to the already high prison population. CAE004.
I also like the idea of rehabilitation as long as the programs are run efficiently and effectively. There are numerous successful rehabilitation programs, and I hope programs will be built based off of the successful programs and from observing what went wrong in others. Effective rehabilitation programs need to correct the illegal behavior. These rehabilitation programs need to be implemented whole-heartily by trained people who care. Rehabilitation programs need to give the offenders useful information and resources that will actually make a difference for the person in civilian life. Scuba004
I applaud the new changes when it comes to first time drug offences. Pay the fine, do a weekend in jail whatever... slap on the wrist for the first wrong doing. Violent crimes is a bit different for me personally. Not saying the people who go through the rehabilitation won't do better in life and won't repeat. Just some will sit through the program just to get a lesser sentence, not picking up any points or just not caring what the program is doing for them. To me that is just wasting money at people who won't use it as intended. The state runs a free motorcycle safety course for those who want to ride a motorcycle. People only attend if they want to learn how to ride. Therefore, its worth it because only those dedicated to riding will attend. Same goes for the program, only those who want to truly use the program should be allowed to use it. Keeping less people in jail is a good thing but knowing when to keep and when to release has to be a good judgement call. USA003
I think that this proposal is a great step to greatly benefitting the criminal justice system. This is what the criminal justice system should have done sooner, because this actually focuses on the problem and aids in fixing it while just locking them up does virtually nothing. Not only will it help fix behavior of the criminals, but it also helps the victims of the crime as well, and that is just as important. Rayder004
Once again Governor Rauner is leading the charge for correctional reform in Illinois. This comes at the height of intense levels of incarceration and victimization in recent years. The overall goal for this new plan is to reduce prison populations 25% by 2025. This is a bold move and an action that has garnered much support through Illinois state legislation. It appears that our state legislation is finally coming to terms that inmates face extreme prejudice and discrimination when seeking work after being incarcerated. Offenders were coming out of prison worse off than when they went in and this is not acceptable. One of the strategies laid out by this plan is the concept of rehabilitation course certifications, and how these certifications will allow certain offenders early parole or release. This on top of other programs is a great way to lower the prison population while reducing recidivism at the same time. Obviously this type of program will be applied on a case by case basis and will not benefit serious violent offenders. Hopefully with reformations like this being put into place will help Illinois regain its spark it lost several years ago. Ghost003
ReplyDeleteI think many of our student comments will be discussing the same things. We all realize that the proposal would be immensely beneficial to our society and economy. There are little to no fallbacks, to my knowledge, that could occur with this new proposal. Rehabilitation has always fallen short among prisons because the prisons lack the funds to have adequate rehabilitation programs. However, if we had a good rehabilitation program that would benefit prisoners, then the prisoners would hopefully get a job and begin to contribute back the costs of the program to society. The program, all in all, would be nothing but beneficial and is completely necessary. Purple003
DeleteI agree the new changes are going to come as both exciting and skeptical. Not everyone is willing to change but those who are will be willing to go to any extreme to better their lives. People make mistakes and a lot of times they are thrown is prison and forgotten about. If they are given options maybe they will try improving their lives. Having sentence reductions for low level offenders for doing treatment is a great incentive. They Governor is doing a great job in trying to better our prison system.sly.003
DeleteFurthermore, the concept of rehabilitation courses is very interesting. It is important that these programs offered to inmates for early release be flushed out and thoroughly designed. If such programs are going to offer certifications that can be used for early release they must have a real chance at lowering recidivism rates and give inmates valuable skills for post release. A G.E.D program would be very beneficial as well, and I think if an inmate passes and receives their G.E.D then that should be evaluated in much the same way as these other proposed rehabilitation programs. Putting inmates on parole after these programs would be a great way to measure their success as well and would offer valuable data collection points for balancing facilities budgets. Ghost004
DeleteI think this bill has been needed for a long time. So it is a relief that Governor Rauner has signed the bill. The system is truly broken and to continue down this path is not going to help anyone. By allowing for good time for inmates completing rehabilitative services we are giving the inmate an incentive to do right. It is time for the system to move away from being so punitive to being more rehabilitative. Obviously it will depend on the type of crime committed rather or not this bill will apply to a particular inmates case. But with much of the incarcerated population being non-violent this bill can serve as a great tool to reduce the mass incarceration rates we are dealing with now. Instead focus on rehab and teaching skills to the inmates so they can be successful once released back into society. Reading this article gave me a bit of hope that all is not lost and we can revamp the system to one that actually works and does in fact keep the communities safe. I am glad that the legislation is finally agreeing that there is an issue with our criminal justice system and that they are taking action to repair it. mommy004
ReplyDeleteI agree, lowering our prison population by introducing new policies and programs to benefit good standing inmates with non-violent cases would be very effective. This new trend could save the state and taxpayers thousands if not millions of dollars in the future as well. It is imperative that we act on our current system and strive for reformation because what we have seen in recent years as far as incarceration rates is down right unacceptable. Furthermore, offering rehabilitation services to those who are released so that they can seek and find employment will be crucial to lower the recidivism rates of these released inmates. Ghost003
DeleteI think it is great that the governor is working to lower prison rates, as well as recidivism rates. Adding discretion to judge’s sentencing abilities is beneficial in my opinion because we all make mistakes, and an individual should not necessarily be given a life ruining punishment for a minor, non-violent mistake. Additionally, the governor, along with the help of others, is increasing the rehabilitation offered in prisons, including helping prisoners with self-improvement. Improving the morals of the prisoners is not only beneficial to themselves, but also our society because the prisoners will be less likely to reoffend, and they can contribute to our working society. There are incentives for the prisoners obtaining a degree or learning a trade, such as parole or early release. Reducing prison rates will also have a major positive impact on society. Prisoners and maintaining prisons is quite expensive, and Illinois is already massively in debt. Illinois cannot afford to maintain the mass amounts of prisoners we have right now. There are many benefits to this new approach, and there are little to no fallbacks to the proposal. I think this concept is something that will be beneficial to Illinois and has been needed for a long time. Purple003
ReplyDeleteI think this would be a good thing for Illinois. We need to start finding ways to not spend money. IF we need to spend money in the prison systems, we need to start trying to rehabilitate these offenders. Most of these people are repeat offenders, and soon as they are released, go back to what they was doing in the first place. Lets give them something they can be proud of. Make all prisoners learn some kind of skill or trade and send them to work. The government needs to have jobs that felons can work at. A lot of employers will not hire someone that is a felon. hotfox003
DeleteThe idea of raising the morals of inmates and help guide their moral compasses can really be a noble cause and probably most effective to minor offenders. A survey should be required for inmates completing a program like the ones our governor proposes. These surveys could help us see if the program has really worked for inmates or if their just simply going through the motions for an early release. Ghost004
DeleteThe goal of reducing the prison population by 25% would be a good idea if it can be done safely. By reducing the prison population through rehabilitation, the criminal justice system can save so much money. I think it is a good idea to give judges more discretion when it comes to sentencing first-time drug offenders. As long as the inmates are not violent offenders I would be okay with them being released early or being sentenced to probation instead of prison. We have to also make sure that those who break a law receive some form of punishment to help deter crime, but we have to make sure the punishment fits the crime and help (such as rehab) is offered. Adding resources for victims is another advancement in the criminal justice system; not too long ago, victim services were not addressed. By adding the policy of allowing good-time credit off sentences for prisoners who complete rehabilitative courses, the recidivism rate should greatly decline. Having those rehabilitative services can address the offender’s problem and offer solutions to keep them out of prison. Rehabilitation is a cheap and effective alternative to prison. Prison does not fix the underlying problem to the offender’s behavior. The article acknowledges that prisoners are returning back to the community worse off than when they went in. To improve the criminal justice system, improvements in the rehabilitation system can be made. Overall, the Gordon-Booth crime reform is a good idea. Scuba004
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. I have always said that offenders need a way to fit back into society. They don't know anything else than what they did to get into prison in the first place. The justice system needs to make everyone learn a trade or skill that will be able to find a job when they get out. While a lot of jobs do not hire felons, I think the government can make a deal with certain employers to hire felons IF they truly want to get out of the crime scene. hotfox003
DeleteIt's great knowing that their are steps being taken to reduce the prison population. More classes and rehabilitation in prison would be a great motivator for inmates to not repeat they same behaviors. Long term rehab for inmates is also a great service to offer. Earning good time for rehabilitation classes or going to school to further their education or get their GED. If your a low level first offender why should you be sentenced like violent offenders. Having incentives is a reward and hopefully are thought of as such. A lot of programs have been canceled do to funding. If the prison population stays down their will be lower prison costs and programs can be started up again. If its proven effective in the long run more people will be supportive. I believe violent repeat offenders should not be given the same opportunities. Sly.003
ReplyDeleteI love the move of giving opportunities to those who will use it. I agree also with the repeat offenders should NOT be program you described. It is a true shame that people will use the programs not to the intention of that which they were intended. But the world isn't perfect and that's why we must have jails in the first place. USA003
DeleteI think that reducing the prison population will be a good thing. But I do believe that when they said about first time drug convictions could get probation instead of jail time, I think it just depends on the circumstances. If the person already has a history of other criminal activity, I do not think they should just get probation. It should also depend on how much of the drug they had on them. It is a great thing that someone is finally looking at a way to reduce the prison system, but how about we look into ways for these people not to come back. Mostly everyone who is in the prison system is a repeat offender. hotfox003
ReplyDeleteIt is no secret that there needs to be something done about the high population of people in our state’s prisons. As a way to try to reduce the state’s prison population by 25%, Governor Bruce Rauner signed into law the Neighborhood Safety Act. This act includes many functions such as recovery services for crime victims, allowing good time credit off sentences for prisoners who complete rehabilitation courses, and will give judges added discretion for probation-only sentences in some first time drug cases. I think Gordon-Booth said it best when he stated “For too long the only response to crime in our communities has been locking people up. Today our prisons are overflowing but many people are returning back to their communities worse off than when they went in.” Many people are indeed much worse off than they were before being incarcerated. The lack of resources and programs to help offenders reintegrate back into the community without feeling like the only option they have to make any type of living is to go back to selling drugs, and thus ending up right back in prison adding to the already high prison population. CAE004.
ReplyDeleteI also like the idea of rehabilitation as long as the programs are run efficiently and effectively. There are numerous successful rehabilitation programs, and I hope programs will be built based off of the successful programs and from observing what went wrong in others. Effective rehabilitation programs need to correct the illegal behavior. These rehabilitation programs need to be implemented whole-heartily by trained people who care. Rehabilitation programs need to give the offenders useful information and resources that will actually make a difference for the person in civilian life. Scuba004
DeleteI applaud the new changes when it comes to first time drug offences. Pay the fine, do a weekend in jail whatever... slap on the wrist for the first wrong doing. Violent crimes is a bit different for me personally. Not saying the people who go through the rehabilitation won't do better in life and won't repeat. Just some will sit through the program just to get a lesser sentence, not picking up any points or just not caring what the program is doing for them. To me that is just wasting money at people who won't use it as intended. The state runs a free motorcycle safety course for those who want to ride a motorcycle. People only attend if they want to learn how to ride. Therefore, its worth it because only those dedicated to riding will attend. Same goes for the program, only those who want to truly use the program should be allowed to use it. Keeping less people in jail is a good thing but knowing when to keep and when to release has to be a good judgement call. USA003
ReplyDeleteI think that this proposal is a great step to greatly benefitting the criminal justice system. This is what the criminal justice system should have done sooner, because this actually focuses on the problem and aids in fixing it while just locking them up does virtually nothing. Not only will it help fix behavior of the criminals, but it also helps the victims of the crime as well, and that is just as important. Rayder004
ReplyDelete