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COVID-19 in Illinois prisons

Resources from Restore Justice

Visiting Resumes in IDOC facilities

IDOC Phase 2 Visiting Procedures

In June 2021, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) entered Phase 2 of visiting. Some contact visits will be allowed.

CO-EXISTING WITH COVID IN ILLINOIS PRISONS: RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PHASE 4 PLANS

Most regions in Illinois are in Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan. Bars, restaurants, gyms, and salons are open throughout the state, but thousands of incarcerated people still have no indication of when they might see their families or meet with their lawyers, or what criteria will be used to determine a return to visitation. 

ILLINOIS FAILING KEY PILLAR OF RESPONSE: PRISONS REMAIN CROWDED, RELEASES EXACERBATE RACIAL INEQUITY

As the global COVID-19 pandemic caused Illinois to shut down, Governor JB Pritzker acknowledged the dangers of our state’s overcrowded prison system. He encouraged Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) facilities to release incarcerated people in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. 

However, analysis of prison population and release datasets shows IDOC is not actually releasing many people early, and, of those released, there are startling racial inequities. 

Early Releases by Release Mechanism and Race

ILLINOIS NEEDS PUBLIC “PHASE 4” GUIDANCE FOR PRISONS

As Illinois enters Phase 4 in the plan to Restore Illinois, Governor JB Pritzker’s office has yet to release public guidance on the plan for Illinois prisons. The Restore Illinois plan identified key benchmarks for movement from Phase 3 to Phase 4.

The road map to move from Phase 3 to Phase 4 indicated testing would need to be “available in (each) region regardless of symptoms or risk factors.” Unfortunately, similar or aligned standards have not been articulated for Illinois prisons. 

OUR PREVIOUS COVID-19 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRISONS

As Illinois shut down in March to protect residents from COVID-19, Restore Justice and the Illinois Prison Project released recommendations to keep people who are incarcerated and prison staff safe. We then released updated recommendations in April.

COVID-19 Webinar for Families with Incarcerated Loved Ones

This webinar will help you develop strategies for advocating for your loved ones during this COVID-19 pandemic. Find tips and tools for contacting officials and for demanding better conditions.

Illinois Legislative Advocacy Webinar

This webinar will help you develop strategies for advocating for policy change in Springfield. Our training begins with a set of basics, including information about how the process works and how to engage in a constructive way.

Other Resources

ILLINOIS PRISON PROJECT TOOLKIT FOR CLEMENCIES

This toolkit contacts resources to help file emergency commutation petitions without the help of an attorney, in light of the threat posed by COVID-19.

IDOC HOTLINE

Call (217) 558-2200. 
The call center is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 
Email doc.covid@illinois.gov.

ILLINOIS-SPECIFIC ARTICLES ABOUT COVID-19 AND PRISONS

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