SUMMARY

Higher education in prison (HEP) transforms lives and strengthens communities. It saves taxpayers money and reduces prison violence. Research indicates HEP contributes to reduced recidivism, supporting public safety and protecting families and communities. HEP partnerships also support the state’s college and university missions of education and service.

Given HEPs many proven benefits, state leaders should aim to increase the HEP program enrollment. This will allow the state to take advantage of a cost-effective and proven strategy for empowering those who are incarcerated, reducing violence, supporting families, and investing in the most vulnerable neighborhoods.

The Illinois Higher Education in Prison Task Force met between February and July 2022 to consider the steps state lawmakers can take to expand access to quality HEP in Illinois. In addition, Task Force members considered what state leaders can do to ensure effective, sustainable, and equitable HEP programs, and ease the transition between HEP and college or university settings for formerly incarcerated individuals.

The Task Force heard from subject matter experts, reviewed published reports and other research findings, listened to formerly incarcerated students’ experiences, and received public comments from those currently in prison about their educational goals and the obstacles to achieving them.

In the end, Task Force members crafted recommendations that will allow for efficient, thoughtful, and cost-effective growth of quality HEP programming in Illinois. These recommendations can be grouped into the following six themes.

The Task Force proposes that the State of Illinois:

  • Create a commission to ensure the continued work of the Task Force.
  • Ensure regular and systematic data collection and reporting related to HEP programming.
  • Conduct regular assessments of the conditions, operations, and outcomes of HEP programs.
  • Increase access to quality technology in Illinois prisons.
  • Leverage state and federal dollars to support HEP funding.
  • Build and sustain a rich ecology of HEP programming through leveraging the support of state leaders, strategic messaging, and investing in existing HEP programming to provide a solid foundation for future growth.

Finally, higher education in prison was not formally defined by the Task Force. However, its discussions primarily focused on post-secondary academic education at the undergraduate level in both community college or four-year settings. Data throughout the full report focuses on undergraduate academic programming (as opposed to vocational or career and technical education programs). Some Task Force members said defining HEP should be a priority moving forward.

Membership in the Illinois Higher Education in Prison Task Force was statutorily mandated in House Joint Resolution 27. The roles and/or organizational affiliations of Task Force members, as stated directly in Illinois legislation, are listed below, along with the Task Force member(s) who fulfilled the legislative membership requirement.

The Governor or his or designee, who will serve as chair:

Orlando Mayorga, Justice, Equity, and Opportunity Initiative/ McCormick Reentry Policy Coordinator, Office of the Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton

The Director of the Justice, Equity, and Opportunity Initiative as designated by the Lieutenant Governor:

Yaacov Delaney, Director, Justice, Equity, and Opportunity Initiative, Office of the Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton

The Director of Illinois Department of Corrections or his or her chief of staff:

Rob Jeffreys, Director, Illinois Department of Corrections

The Chair of the Illinois Board of Higher Education or his or her designee:

Eric Lichtenberger, Deputy Director for Information Management and Research, Illinois Board of Higher Education

The Executive Director of the Illinois Community College Board or his or her designee:

Nathan Wilson, Deputy Director for Research and Information Technology, Illinois Community College Board

The Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority or his or her designee:

Lynne Mock, Manager for Center for Community Corrections Research, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority

One State Representative appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representative, one State Representative appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, one State Senator appointed by the President of the Senate, and one State Senator appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate:

Carol Ammons, State Representative, Illinois General Assembly

VACANT, State Representative, Illinois General Assembly

Terri Bryant, State Senator, Illinois General Assembly

Cristina Pacione-Zayas, State Senator, Illinois General Assembly

Two academic officers (e.g., deans or provosts) at institutions currently or formerly involved with Higher Education in Prison in Illinois, one appointed by the Speaker of the House and one by the Minority Leader of the House:

Antoinette Burton, Professor of History, Swanlund Endowed Professor, Director of the Humanities Research Institute, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

VACANT

Two current or past administrators in Illinois Higher Education in Prison programs, one appointed by the Speaker of the House and one by the Minority Leader of the House:

Sarah Ross, Co-Director Prison + Neighborhood Arts/Education Project; Associate Professor, Art Education, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Jennifer Lackey, Director of Northwestern Prison Education Program, Wayne and Elizabeth Jones Professor of Philosophy, Northwestern University; Professor of Law (courtesy), Northwestern Pritzker School of Law

Two formerly incarcerated individuals who participated in Higher Education in Prison in Illinois, one appointed by the Speaker of the House and one by the Minority Leader of the House:

Quintin Williams, Program Officer, The Joyce Foundation VACANT

Two recognized experts on Higher Education in Prison, one appointed by the Speaker of the House and one by the Minority Leader of the House:

Rebecca Ginsburg, Director, Education Justice Project, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign VACANT

One member who is a representative of a statewide organization that independently monitors corrections facilities, policies, and practices in Illinois appointed by the Lieutenant Governor:

Gwyn Troyer, Director of Prison Monitoring, John Howard Association