Illinois took a step closer to implementing a legislative action plan that will significantly improve Higher Education in Prison (HEP) following the completion of an assessment and analysis by the Illinois Higher Education in Prison Task Force. The task force was created by House Joint Resolution 27 (HJR 27), legislation co-sponsored by State Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Urbana) and State Sen. Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood), and unanimously adopted by the Illinois General Assembly last fall. After five months of discussion and deliberation, the task force adopted 31 recommendations for the governor and general assembly that will create stronger state support for higher education in Illinois prisons and greater access to these programs for incarcerated people. Adoption of these data-driven recommendations will position Illinois as a national exemplar in the field of HEP. The full final report is available here: https://icjia.illinois.gov/about/publications/illinois-higher-education-in-prison-task-force-2022-report 

The task force began meeting in February and held its last meeting on July 28, 2022. It was charged with four objectives: 

1. To obtain and analyze existing data on HEP in Illinois; 

2. To identify data points that should be collected to allow for meaningful, statewide evaluation of HEP; 

3. To assess HEP barriers and opportunities in Illinois and the possibilities for incarcerated people to continue higher education upon release; and 

4. To recommend a legislative action plan to expand access to HEP in the state.

For more information or to get involved, visit ilchep.org or freedom-to-learn.net.