John Howard Association

Programs: Prison monitoring project - illinois prison system incarcerates almost 50,000 individuals. Through on-site prison visits, collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data (from prison staff and inmates), and the compilation of findings and recommendations in fact-based reports, our work is a catalyst for change. Our monitoring teams explore and document health care issues and services, recreational programs, educational programs, physical conditions of correctional facilities and corrections policies. The distribution of our reports to almost 2,000 stakeholders, adult correctional officials, legislators, press releases, and various forms of advocacy define the debate and engage the public conversation.

juvenile justice project - jha's juvenile justice project monitors the eight illinois department of juvenile justice facilities as they strive to transition from a punitive to a therapeutic and rehabilitative model. Based on our findings we advocate for reforms that will ensure illinois' incarcerated youth are receiving proper education, therapy, rehabilitative programming and humane treatment while incarcerated. We adhere to the principle that youth are fundamentally different than adults, and work toward changes in our criminal justice and corrections systems that recognize those differences. The distribution of our reports to almost 2,000 stakeholders, juvenile justice officials, legislators, press releases, and various forms of advocacy define the debate and engage the public conversation. Every year, jha communicates with more than 3,000 incarcerated youths, adult prisoners and their family members through letters, phone calls, and interviews during prison inspections about issues they face, such as inadequate health care, allegations of staff misconduct and lack of access to legal material.