State Rep. La Shawn K. Ford, D-Chicago, joined a “Returning Citizens Independence Day” press conference and rally on Sunday, July 3rd outside of the Cook County Jail with the help of advocates, previously incarcerated and reentry organizations to talk about the need to take action to reduce recidivism. Ford previously passed a House Resolution in 2017 that marked July 3 as Illinois Citizens Re-entry Day to bring awareness to the issue. According to a 2018 report from the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council, the recidivism rate within one year of release is 17 percent, and within three years of release the rate climbs to 43 percent. The results saddle the state with billions in costs, with the 2018 report projecting a $13 billion hit over five years if the rate did not decrease. Factors that contribute to recidivism include an individual’s social environment, their community, and circumstances before and during their incarceration. Issues with adjusting back to normal life, such as connecting with family or finding a job, can have a critical impact on whether or not someone reoffends.