SR0897LRB103 40137 ECR 71834 r

1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, After being released from a state or federal 
3penal system, 95% of justice-involved persons will reenter 
4society at a crossroads, with one path leading to recidivism 
5and the other leading to an opportunity for a second chance; 
6and
 
7    WHEREAS, Prison-based education and vocational programs 
8yield favorable dividends; for every $1 invested in 
9prison-based education, up to $5 of taxpayer savings are 
10produced from reduced incarceration costs as well as a 43% 
11decrease in recidivism by individuals who participate in 
12prison education programs, a 13% increase in employment among 
13those who participate in either academic or vocational 
14programs, and a 28% increase in employment among those who 
15participate in vocational programs alone; and
 
16    WHEREAS, A study, conducted by the Illinois Criminal 
17Justice Information Authority involving a segment of 
18justice-involved persons who exited a prison facility in 
19Illinois in 2018 and had their employment tracked through 
202021, found that participants had an unemployment rate of 46%, 
21their average income was lower than the federal poverty level, 
22and their hourly wages were lower than the state minimum wage; 
23this study also noted that African American persons who were 
 
 
SR0897- 2 -LRB103 40137 ECR 71834 r

1convicted of a crime had a higher unemployment rate and lower 
2wages than other races after release; therefore, be it
 
3    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL 
4ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge support for the 
5development and execution of rehabilitation, job and career 
6assessment, and job training programming, all of which is 
7essential in training persons released from a state 
8correctional facility to promote the individual's successful 
9rehabilitation, reentry, and reintegration into the community 
10as productive, self-sufficient members of society; and be it 
11further
 
12    RESOLVED, That we express our commitment to learning more 
13about how the State of Illinois can help support 
14justice-involved individuals reentering society address 
15barriers to employment and attain good paying jobs to enable 
16their ability to become contributing taxpayers in the future.