News reports in Illinois indicate that a number of county sheriffs have begun the process of transferring prisoners held in county jails to the custody of the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). These transfers had been blocked by an order from Governor Pritzker as part of the State’s strategy to curb the spread of COVID-19 in state correctional facilities. After a group of county sheriffs challenged the order, a Logan County Judge ruled against the Governor’s order, and sheriffs quickly began the transfer process before the ruling could be appealed.  

The following statement can be attributed to Camille Bennett, Director of the Corrections Reform Project, ACLU of Illinois: 

“It is regrettable that some sheriffs appear anxious to resume transfers to IDOC even before the legal process has played out. Elected officials should be mindful of health risks to those being transferred as well as those inside IDOC facilities, including staff and their families.

We know that prisons and jails have been vectors for spread of the coronavirus and moving people in and out – including sheriffs’ personnel managing the transfers – only increases spread of the virus. 

The State deserves an opportunity to appeal this ruling before the risk of spread is magnified. Unnecessarily subjecting detainees, staff, and communities to a potentially lethal virus without appropriate public health precautions is needlessly cruel.”

As I opened my computer and prepared to click on the Zoom link for this year’s ACLU National Advocacy Institute, I felt very anxious about what was to come. Automatically muting my mic and deciding on whether or not to show my face or just my profile picture, I was greeted by this amazing voice. This person was so thrilled to speak to us youth about social justice issues that have been plaguing our minds and was actually willing to listen. 

Amber Hikes - ACLU Chief Equity & Inclusion Officer, our keynote speaker for the first night, and a proud queer black woman - left me with a lasting statement that has stuck with me and will definitely follow me once camp is over. After expressing how saddened she was due to the fact that this year’s summer programming is only virtual this year, she said “crisis creates opportunity.” At first, I was skeptical about what that really meant. Now I am starting to see opportunities everywhere I look. 

I admit that I was also upset at first that this year’s Institute couldn't be in person, but it was an honor to attend the Institute under the Alex McCray scholarship from the ACLU of Illinois, so I can flourish in my learning of social justice and change. Amber stated that before this pandemic that what we are going through has created opportunities for my fellow peers and myself that I would probably not have concerned myself with in the past. Mostly everyone I know has been practicing and preaching for social distancing in order to flatten the curve, but I had never thought about the people who are already alienated from our society. 

Prison reform has been a hot topic for years, but now the COVID-19 crisis has given the topic a whole new opportunity. Before the Summer Institute, I wasn't aware of the inhumane conditions in prison that people have to live in, and the lack of communication between inmates and their officers. As an inmate, it is physically impossible to social distance and protect yourself from COVID-19 when you are living in a cell the size of a parking space. 

Now that the Summer Institute has come to an end, I will be putting prison reform in my sights and helping as many incarcerated people as I can. COVID-19 is a crisis that has given people many different opportunities to help and my job as of now is to make sure I fight for the rights of incarcerated people to ensure their chance of surviving this pandemic, and to protect them from cruel and unusual punishment like the 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution promised. 

The following statement can be attributed to Camille Bennett, Director of the Corrections Reform Project, ACLU of Illinois: 

“As counsel for youth in custody of the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), we hope today’s announcement is a further step forward to creating a humane and rehabilitative environment for young people in DJJ custody. It is encouraging that today’s announcement focuses on bringing youth closer to home, and matching each youth with services they need.

And it is especially appropriate to hear the Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Director will center this work on racial equity and inclusion, addressing the real harm that has been experienced by Black and Brown youth who are by far the most affected by our current system.  

We filed the R.J. lawsuit eight years ago when the more than 1,000 youth held by DJJ faced harsh conditions. DJJ facilities were filthy. Young people – including some with serious mental health needs – were locked in cells for 22 or 23 hours per day. Staffing was inadequate and the education program was woeful.   

Today, DJJ population has fallen below 100, solitary confinement has been eliminated, and educational, mental health and rehabilitative services have improved.  

What remains true is that while in DJJ custody, a 14- or 15-year-old can still spend their night in a locked cell, month after month, hundreds of miles from their family and the only neighborhood they have ever known. We commend Governor Pritzker, Lieutenant Governor Stratton and IDJJ Director Heidi Mueller for recognizing the need to bring these young people closer to home and committing to a plan to make this a reality. We also commend the dedicated youth advocates from across the state who have spoken out and worked hard to change this system. 

Now the real work begins. We look forward to continuing to working with DJJ to creating a system that truly seeks to recognize and develop the potential in young people committed to their care.  

Today’s announcement also reminds us that we can make big changes in the State of Illinois. We look forward to working with the Governor and his Administration to achieve change to policing in our state as well as fundamental reform of the criminal legal system.”