Physical mail and other forms of communication are directly linked to strengthening the relationships people in prison have with loved ones, increasing rehabilitation, reentry success, and public safety. We thank Laura Faver Dias for her support of HB3713. 25newsnow.com/2025/03/19/bil…

Big news from the John Howard Association: Our 2024 data visualization tables have been fully updated and are now live. These tools offer a clearer picture of Illinois' prison system by making key data accessible and understandable for the public, policymakers, and advocates.

It's back! Join JHA on Tues. 6/17 at Tree House Chicago for our 2nd Toast to Justice Trivia Night with trivia by stewpendous_productions. Buy your tix today at thejha.org/ttj2025 and support JHA's prison monitoring & advocacy work!

On March 4th, the John Howard Association had the privilege of visiting the Adult Transitional Center in North Lawndale, operated by the Safer Foundation. This visit was an opportunity for us to engage with individuals working toward successful reentry and to learn more about the

#YourWordsMatter

As IDOC switches to a new phone provider, many are facing confusion about call costs. We've shared a simple breakdown of the new rates, including per-minute charges and added fees, to help you better understand what to expect. View the info here: thejha.org/external-resou… We’ll

This month, the John Howard Association visited Hill and Western Correctional Centers as part of our ongoing work as Illinois’ only independent prison watchdog. We spoke with incarcerated individuals and staff to assess conditions, hear concerns, and advocate for meaningful

Second chances create stronger communities. This Second Chance Month, we celebrate resilience, growth, and the opportunity for a fresh start. Successful reentry and meaningful second chances are possible when people in prison are treated with dignity and humanity and provided

JHA was pleased to attend the Michael Reese Health Trust Grantee Partner Breakfast; we are grateful for the Trust's support of our work. Prison health is public health, and JHA will continue to push for increased access to better quality healthcare for those who are incarcerated.

Last week, the John Howard Association had the opportunity to visit St.Charles youth facility alongside a group of thoughtful and engaged students from Loyola University. It was a powerful experience, one that underscored the importance of bearing witness, listening to the lived

Get your trivia on! Join JHA Tues 6/17 at Tree House Chicago for a fun night of trivia hosted by stewpendous_productions. All tickets include a free drink and apps; all revenue supports JHA's prison monitoring & advocacy programs. Buy tix today at thejha.org/TTJ2025.

Monitoring visits are at the heart of JHA's work. Observing conditions and hearing directly from those who are incarcerated and those who work in prisons is critical to forming our advocacy priorities. This week JHA visited Pontiac, Jacksonville, and Pittsfield Work Camp. Thank

JHA is thrilled that SB2201 - a bill mandating that IDOC collect and report contraband data from inside prisons - has passed the IL Senate! For policies to protect people who are incarcerated and corrections staff, they must be based on accurately identifying the problem.

Home for Good is a public safety approach that benefits everyone, by helping those who are often excluded from assistance and in need, it provides a path forward recognizing that, "...setbacks, caused by systemic problems that can be fixed, ripple through families and

It’s Volunteer Month! Here at the John Howard Association, we just want to say a huge thank you to all of our amazing volunteers. Whether you’ve helped us during prison visits, supported our events, or used your time and skills to help behind the scenes, you are a big part of

🔊 Calling all system-impacted voices! We need your insight! The John Howard Association is hosting a Community Listening Session to discuss how people inside Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) can help improve care within prisons. 📅 Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025 🕔

NEW! JHA Reentry Report Part 2/2. Our visits, data & ongoing work show that while IDOC has had some success helping people feel ready for release in specialized reentry facilities, it hadn’t been able to create the same feeling in regular prisons—even those meant to focus on

JHA appreciates the work of the Prison Policy Initiative in creating this important resource that lays out the full scale of damage being done by defunding vital programs that improve public safety and reduce the violence and harm experienced by people in carceral settings; harm

This past week, our community engagement manager had the privilege of attending the Chicago Mayor’s Office of Reentry’s Reentry Summit, where the focus was on centering and addressing the unique needs of women impacted by the justice system. From powerful keynote addresses to