Experts Discuss How to Reduce Illinois Prison Population

Dr. Daniel Geiter is not a prisoner. He wears his orange jumpsuit to represent that ex-offenders who have become productive members of their communities are affected by the stigma of having been incarcerated. (Torene Harvin /Medill)

By Torene Harvin

More than 40 people gathered at the Jenner and Block law firm Wednesday to discuss Gov. Bruce Rauner’s plan to decrease the Illinois state prison population.

The Illinois Policy and American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced strategies to decrease the prison population by 2025.

“There are only a couple of ways to decreasing the prison population,” said John Maki, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, executive director. “That’s decreasing admissions and length of staying.”

[vimeo 157653622 w=474]

Photo at top: Dr. Daniel Geiter is not a prisoner. He wears his orange jumpsuit to represent the ex-offenders who have become productive members of their communities and are affected by the stigma of having been incarcerated. (Torene Harvin /Medill)