Slaughter Advocates for Inmate Program in New Bill Passed Out of Committee

CHICAGO – Seeking to cut down on recidivism for inmates who are trying to improve their life, state Rep. Justin Slaughter, D-Chicago, passed legislation out of committee in an attempt to reduce the number of released inmates returning to prison.

“Giving people a second chance is important to their personal and professional development,” Slaughter said. “If we provide them with the opportunity to acquire a skill and have employment, we are doing them and our society a great service. We must make certain that those who are released from prison have a second chance at life and learn from the mistakes previously made.”

Slaughter’s House Bill 698 amends the Unified Code of Corrections creating the pre-release Prisoner Entrepreneur Education Program to provide select inmates with practical business skills for use after release from prison. The program establishes a five year pilot project to be instituted within the Illinois Department of Corrections with the goal of providing inmates with practical business skills for use after release from prison. The bill is based on a program from the Texas Department of Corrections that has achieved success.

“When someone leaves prison, I want to make sure that they are set up to succeed and contribute back to society,” Slaughter said. “This bill will help to prevent unnecessary parole violations that have no criminal intent.”

For more information, please contact Slaughter’s constituent service office at 773-445-9700 slaughterj@ilga.gov.