>> HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M AMANDA VINDICATE HER SHOTS AND BRING TREATMENT THE EVENING OFF.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT.

>> THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.

>> WE SPEAK WITH ADVOCATES WORKING WITH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS IN LIGHT OF THE KILLING OF 11 YEAR-OLD JADEN PERKINS.

AND HOW THE DEMOLITION OF 2 ILLINOIS PRISONS MIGHT IMPACT INMATES AND STAFF.

NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, EILEEN O'NEILL, BERKS LEAD OVER CLAYTON HARRIS AND THE HOTLY CONTESTED RACE FOR COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY.

>> HAS DROPPED BELOW 2000 VOTES.

THAT'S AFTER THE COOK COUNTY CLERK AND CHICAGO BOARD OF ELECTIONS RELEASED THE RESULTS OF ADDITIONAL ROUNDS OF MAIL-IN AND PROVISIONAL BALLOTS THAT HAVE BEEN COUNTED ACCORDING TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WITH 98% OF VOTES TABULATED O'NEILL BURKE NOW LEADS HARRIS BY MORE THAN 1600 VOTES.

THAT'S DOWN FROM A LEAD OF JUST OVER 2000 LAST NIGHT.

WE'VE GOT MORE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE.

CHICAGO PARK DISTRICT FACILITIES USED AS EMERGENCY HOUSING FOR MIGRANTS ARE SET TO GO BACK TO USUAL FUNCTIONS.

THE HOUSING HAS BEEN A SORE POINT FOR RESIDENTS UPSET ABOUT CANCELED CLASSES AND CLOSED COURTS.

MAYOR FRIEND AND JOHNSON'S OFFICE SAYS STARTING SATURDAY MIGRANTS SHELTERING AT CAGE BROADWAY ARMORY, FRIENDS, LEONE AND PATROL PARKS WILL BE MOVED IS THERE IS NOW ENOUGH SPACE AT NON PARK LOCATIONS.

THE ADMINISTRATION SAYS IT PLANS TO TRANSITION RESIDENTS TO NEARBY LOCATIONS.

SO AS TO NOT DISRUPT SERVICES CHILDREN'S SCHOOLING ONCE THAT'S DONE, THE PARK DISTRICT HOPES TO RETURN TO REGULAR PARK DISTRICT PROGRAMMING IN TIME FOR SUMMER SCHEDULE.

SET TO BE ONLINE.

APRIL 8TH.

THE MEMBER OF THE STATE'S PRISONER REVIEW BOARD BEHIND THE ORDER THAT ALLOWED PROTEST BRAND OUT ON PAROLE HAS RESIGNED AND NEW WITHIN THE HOUR.

SO HAS THE BOARD'S PALM TIME CHAIR DONALD SHELTON BRAND IS ACCUSED OF MURDERING 11 YEAR-OLD JADEN PERKINS AND HIS PREGNANT MOTHER IN EDGEWATER EARLIER THIS MONTH.

HE PREVIOUSLY BEEN SERVING A 16 YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR HOME INVASION.

BRAND WAS RELEASED IN THE FALL BUT THEN SENT BACK TO PRISON FOR VIOLATING HIS PAROLE TERMS, INCLUDING FOR ALLEGEDLY THREATENING PERKINS.

THIS MOM WHO WAS FRIENDS, ACTS.

AND MILLER CONDUCTED A HEARING AND DRAFTED IN ORDER THAT ALLOWED BRANDS RELEASE THE VERY NEXT DAY.

BRAND IS BELIEVED TO HAVE ATTACKED PERKINS AND HIS MOM.

IN A STATEMENT ANNOUNCING PRISONER REVIEW BOARD MEMBER LAND MILLER'S RESIGNATION.

GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER SAYS IT IS CLEAR THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD DID NOT GIVE CONSIDERATION TO THE EVIDENCE THAT THE VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DESERVE.

THE STATEMENT NOTING ANNOUNCING SHELTON'S RESIGNATION MADE NO REFERENCE TO THE BRAND CASE AND WE WILL SPEAK SOON WITH ADVOCATES FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS, ABOUT LESSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM THE SITUATION.

AND UP NEXT, WHAT IS AND ISN'T BEING DONE FOR SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE?

THAT'S RIGHT.

AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART WHY THE ALEXANDRA AND JOHN NICHOLS FAMILY.

THE GYM AND K MAYBE FAMILY.

THE POPE BROTHERS FOUNDATION.

AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> ALMOST 2 WEEKS AGO, 11 YEAR-OLD JADEN PERKINS LIFE WAS CUT SHORT.

HE AND HIS PREGNANT MOM ATTACKED BY HIS MOM'S LONGTIME EX-BOYFRIEND IN THEIR NORTH SIDE APARTMENT.

PERKINS DIED WHILE TRYING TO PROTECT HIS MOTHER.

OFFICIAL SAID NO.

THE MAN ACCUSED OF THE KILLING WHO WAS OUT ON PAROLE HAD A RECORD OF VIOLATING ORDERS OF PROTECTION.

HE HAS SINCE BEEN CHARGED WITH NUMEROUS FELONIES, INCLUDING FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

AND NOW AT LEAST ONE MEMBER OF THE ILLINOIS PRISONER REVIEW BOARD HAS RESIGNED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CASE.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT THIS, OUR CALL, ALL MAYOR, THE CO-FOUNDER AND CO-DIRECTOR OF HEALING TO ACTION.

ALSO, ASHLEY OLSON, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF A CENT JUSTICE.

THANKS TO EACH OF, YOU KNOW, CARLA, YOUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN WORKING ON THE GROUND IN THE COMMUNITY SINCE JAYDEN'S KILLING HAS TO BE HARD.

READ ABOUT HIM.

HE WAS A STRAIGHT, A STUDENT, GOOD DANCER AND EVIDENTLY ALMOST ALSO JUST LOVING AND BRAVE ENOUGH THAT ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES, FOUGHT FOR HIS MOM DURING THIS ATTACK.

SO WHAT DOES THAT COMMUNITY WORK LOOK LIKE?

YEAH.

SO A LOT OF THE COMMUNITY HEALING TO ACTION.

OUR ORGANIZATION IS A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION THAT A SURVIVOR LEAD.

>> AND OUR MISSION IS BUILD THE LEADERSHIP AND COLLECTIVE POWER OF THE SURVIVORS MOST IMPACTED.

SO WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE PROVIDE LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR SURVIVORS, BUT ALSO SURVIVORS CARRY OUT GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGNS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

IN THIS INSTANCE, WE HAVE SURVIVOR LEADERS WHO ARE CONNECTED WITH THE ISSUE.

THERE'S MANY PEOPLE ON THE TEAM WHO ARE EFFECTED DIRECTLY.

AND SO WHAT THAT SUPPORT IT'S LOOKING LIKE IT'S REALLY CONNECTING WITH PARENTS IN THE COMMUNITY OFFERING HEALING, IDEAS AND BEING THOUGHT PARTNERSHIP AND REALLY SUPPORTING THE COMMUNITY AND CENTERING THE SURVIVOR IN INSTANCE.

AND HOPEFULLY I'M SURE GOING FORWARD HELPING JAYDEN'S MOTHER.

YES, KNOW THAT SHE WAS PREGNANT AND HAD ANOTHER CHILD AS WELL.

SO WORKING WITH THEM.

YES.

>> WELL, THAT'S THAT'S THE HOPE.

ANYWAY.

WE HOPE FOR HER RECOVERY.

NOW I'M ASHLEY IS SOMEBODY WHO WORKS WITH SURVIVORS.

WHAT IS YOUR REACTION HEARING THIS WHOLE SITUATION?

VARIOUS VIOLATIONS OF ORDERS OF PROTECTION?

YOU KNOW, IT IS VAST, TRAGIC AND UNFORTUNATELY NOT UNIQUE SITUATION.

YOU KNOW, WE SEE A LOT.

WITH OUR CLIENTS.

THIS THE CYCLE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND UNFORTUNATELY A CYCLE OF FAILING VICTIMS BOTH AND ENFORCING PROTECTION.

GRANTING ORDERS OF PROTECTION.

AND SO THAT.

UNFORTUNATE THAT IT IN THAT IS NOT UNIQUE.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I REALLY WANT TO DRILL IN ON HERE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THIS IS A HORRIFYING SITUATION.

BUT >> SORT OF THE WHAT WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT IT.

SO LET'S ACTUALLY TO THAT END, LISTEN TO PART OF A PRESS CONFERENCE FROM MARCH.

15TH.

THAT'S WHEN THE CHARGES WERE ANNOUNCED AGAINST THE MAN WHO ALLEGEDLY KILLED PERKINS.

AND HERE IS WHAT COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX HAD TO SAY.

>> THERE SHOULD BE CONFIDENCE IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT WE WOULD HOPE THE INCIDENCES LIKE THIS FOR A YEAR.

HOW THIS IS HORRIFIC AND WE NEED TO DO AN EVALUATION PARTICULAR IN THIS CASE AND OTHERS TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE NO GAPS IN THE JUSTICE SYSTEM THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR A DANGEROUS OFFENDER TO COMMIT THE ACCIDENT AND AS YOU HEARD, THE SUPERINTENDENT SAY THAT THEIR QUESTIONS, NO QUESTIONS NEED TO BE EXAMINED IN TRUTHFULLY ANSWER SO THAT WE CAN PREVENT SOMETHING LIKE THIS FROM HAPPENING.

>> EVENTUALLY YOU JUST SAID THAT WHILE SOME OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN THIS PARTICULAR SITUATION MAY BE DIFFERENT, THAT THIS IS NOT ALL THAT RARE.

WHAT ARE THOSE GAPS IN THE SYSTEM THAT STATE'S ATTORNEY FOXX WAS REFERENCING?

NOW THE STAMP?

>> TO SOME OF THEM JUST CAPS GENERAL IN THE SYSTEM.

A LOT OF IT IS HAS TO DO WITH ENFORCEMENT >> AND IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THERE ARE GREAT LAWS RELATED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

THERE ARE GREAT THINGS THAT PROTECT SURVIVORS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THEY'RE NOT FOLLOWED THROUGH WITH US ARE NOT THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE IN PLACE.

2.

HELP ENFORCE DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.

WHETHER THE STAFFING OR THE EDUCATION THAT.

INFORMATION ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

SO PROBABLY JUMP IN HERE.

WHAT SPECIFICALLY DOES THAT MEAN IN TERMS OF LACK OF ENFORCEMENT?

IS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR POLICE TO, YOU KNOW, GO AFTER SOMEBODY?

IS THE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD FOR ALLOWING SOMEBODY OUT ON PAROLE?

>> IS IT SYSTEMS THAT DON'T TALK TO ONE ANOTHER?

>> YEAH, I MEAN, I THINK WE ACTUALLY I AGREE THAT THE SYSTEM ACTUALLY RARELY WORKS IN A REPORT BY THE NETWORK IN 2022, ONLY 3% OF CALLS FROM SURVIVORS TO POLICE ACTUALLY RESULTED IN ARRESTS.

AND SO I THINK ALL OF US CAN AGREE THAT SURVIVORS DESERVE TO HAVE THE COMMUNITY, A RELIABLE COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT.

AND WHAT THAT REALLY MEANS IS THAT THIS ISSUE OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IS SO INDIVIDUALIZED.

IT REALLY NEEDS TO BE SEEN AND INVESTED AND AS COMMUNITY VIOLENCE.

AND THERE'S ACTUALLY 2 MAIN PROBLEMS RIGHT NOW WITH THE WAY HOW THE SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY BEING SET UP.

I THINK THE FIRST IS RECOGNIZING THAT SURVIVORS DON'T HAVE DON'T HAVE ANYONE TO REALLY TALK TO ABOUT THIS BECAUSE IT IS HIGHLY INDIVIDUALIZED SAYING, OK, WELL, WE'RE GOING TO TREAT THIS IS DOMESTIC.

THAT JUST HAPPENS IN THE HOME.

THIS IS IN EFFECT, THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

THAT USUALLY WHAT YOU'RE HERE THAT DOESN'T CREATE MAKES IT FOR THE SURVIVOR TO DEAL WITH IT ON HER OWN OR HIS OWN AND ACTUALLY PUTS THE PRESSURE ON THEM TO FIX THE SITUATION.

I THINK OFF WHEN I WAS TAUGHT WHEN I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THE PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY, THEY'VE BEEN SAYING WE DON'T HAVE A WE HAD NO IDEA THAT SHE WAS GOING THROUGH THIS.

SHE WAS GOING THROUGH THIS ALONE.

AND THE SECOND PROBLEM IS THAT EVEN IF WHEN YOU SEE THE SYSTEM WORK, YOU OFTENTIMES SEE THE SYSTEM FAIL.

SO IN LAST LAST SUMMER, THERE WAS A CASE FOR GETTING AGO IN SILENCE UNFORTUNATELY WAS ALSO KILLED BY HER PARTNER.

AND I'M HER DAUGHTER WAS KILLED AFTER AN ORDER OF PROTECTION WAS ISSUED EVEN WHEN THOSE PROTECTIONS ARE THERE, YOU'RE STILL NOT THE SAFETY OF THE PERCENT.

AND WE HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT KIND OF SYSTEM OR WE RELY ON WHEN SOMEONE HAS BEEN INCARCERATED FOR 16 YEARS OR LONGER AND THEY'RE NOT REHABILITATED THEY'RE NOT REHABILITATED BACK TO SOCIETY.

>> SO THE IN THAT THIS SITUATION AND GOVERNOR HAS CALLED FOR AGAIN, AS WE NOTED, 2 MEMBERS OF THE PRISONER RELEASE REVIEW BOARD HAVE RESIGNED.

AT LEAST ONE OF THEM INDIRECTLY CONNECTION WITH THIS CASE.

IT APPEARS THE GOVERNOR CALLING FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TRAINING FOR THOSE MEMBERS.

ASHLEY, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT WOULD HELP?

YES, I MEAN, I THINK HEARD IT.

IT WOULDN'T HURT DOES IT SOLVE THE ISSUE COMPLETELY KNOW.

>> BUT I AT ALL LEVELS OF THE SYSTEMS WERE VICTIMS ARE INTERACTING WITH.

EDUCATION, ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

WHAT IT IS, HOW IT PRESENTS ITSELF, HOW WE CAN PREVENT IT OR INTERVENE CAN ONLY HELP IT.

IT.

I THINK IT HAS TO GO HAND IN HAND WITH.

YOU KNOW WHAT CARLA MENTION ABOUT MAKING THIS IS A COMMUNITY ISSUE, BRINGING IT OUT INTO THE PUBLIC MORE WHERE THAT EDUCATION NOT FOR A BIT, BUT I WANT TO GET TO THE CAUSE.

THE GOVERNOR, THIS IS ALSO, OF COURSE, PUTTING PRESSURE ON THE SYSTEM FOR FIXES.

THIS IS TRAGIC INCIDENT THAT IS.

>> COULD LEAD TO CHANGE.

AND IN FACT, GOVERNOR SAYING THAT HE WOULD SUPPORT A PROPOSED LEGISLATION IF IT DOES SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT AND IS DIRECTING BOTH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS AND THE PIER BE TO REVIEW THE CURRENT RULES AND PROCEDURES FOR CASES INVOLVING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE.

SO WHAT IS THE ISSUE HERE?

BECAUSE THERE'S BEEN SOME REPORTING THAT MAY BE PRISONER REVIEW BOARD WASN'T AWARE OF THE SITUATION THAT THE THAT THE JUDGE DECIDED TO RELEASE THIS INDIVIDUAL DESPITE THESE VIOLATIONS.

AND THIS HAS TO DO WITH, YOU KNOW, BEING PRESUMED INNOCENT UNLESS THERE'S A PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE.

OTHERWISE.

YOU KNOW, I CAN SPEAK DIRECTLY OF COURSE, NOT THE CASE, BUT WHAT CAN BE DONE.

I YOU KNOW, AS WE MENTIONED, BRINGING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE TO A MORE PUBLIC FACING FRONT.

YOU KNOW, EDUCATING THE FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE SYSTEMS ARE FOLKS FROM OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND SO THEY THE SYSTEMS THAT WE LOVE THAT WE HAVE TO WORK AND THEY REFLECT OUR COMMUNITIES AND WE HAVE TO IN TERMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, YOU KNOW, BRING IT OUT AS A PUBLIC ISSUE.

AND CHANGE.

I THINK PUBLIC PERCEPTION.

ABOUT WHAT IT IS WHO CAN DEAL WITH YOU KNOW, WILL HELP IS.

I THINK ONE PART OF CHANGING AND UPDATING THE SYSTEM'S.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE ANY SORT OF QUICK LEGISLATIVE FIX, BUT I THINK A LOT OF THESE THINGS KIND OF HAVE TO GO HAND IN HAND WITH EACH OTHER.

AND YOU WANT TO WEIGH IN HERE.

GOT ABOUT 30 SECONDS.

I THINK ONE THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TO TO NOTE IS THAT THE SYSTEM ITSELF HAS BEEN BROKEN AND PUTTING LIKE A ANOTHER BAND-AID SOLUTION IS JUST NOT GOING TO ACTUALLY MAKE THE SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE.

>> AND SO WHAT WOULD WE WOULD PROPOSE IS REALLY ON THE SHORT TERM HAVING A COMMUNITY-BASED APPROACH WHERE YOU HAVE A NETWORK OF SUPPORT FOR THE SURVIVORS EMBEDDED IN THEIR COMMUNITIES SO THAT IF YOU HAVE A SURVIVE, IF YOU HAVE TO FIND HOUSING IMMEDIATELY, YOU CAN GO BECAUSE I WANT TO CALL AND SOMEONE UNDERSTANDS YOUR SITUATION.

THAT IS THE SORT OF WORK THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION DOES.

SO A PLACE TO START >> THE PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION, IF YOU'RE LOOKING FOR FOLKS TO WIN, WE'VE GOT TO THANK YOU.

AND I'M SO SORRY AND GOOD WITH THE REST OF YOUR WORK.

NOW, UP NEXT, WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS PLANNING FOR 2 STATE CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

STAY WITH US.

>> CHICAGO, TONIGHT'S COVERAGE OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS SUPPORTED BY THE SOO LEE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION INITIATIVE FOR REDUCING VIOLENCE IN CHICAGO.

>> HOUSING ESTATE PHIL CORRECTIONAL CENTER IS QUOTE, NOT SUITABLE FOR ANY 21ST CENTURY CORRECTIONAL CENTER AND LOGAN CORRECTIONAL CENTER IS INEFFICIENT, INEFFECTIVE AND UNSUITABLE FOR ANY POPULATION.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO AN INDEPENDENT REPORT LAST YEAR ON THE CONDITIONS IN ILLINOIS CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES.

THAT REPORT HELPED PUSH GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER TO ANNOUNCE A 900 MILLION DOLLAR PLAN TO DEMOLISH, THEN REBUILD TO PRISONS.

THOSE 2 PRESIDENTS SPECIFICALLY NOW JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THAT PLAN MEANS FOR INMATES AS WELL AS FOR PRISON STAFF ARE JAMES SOTO, A FORMER INMATE AT STABLE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS.

ALSO, JENNIFER KATZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE JOHN HOWARD ASSOCIATION.

THAT IS A PRISON WATCHDOG GROUP AND MIKE NEWMAN, DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF ASKED ME COUNCIL 31, WHICH REPRESENTS CORRECTIONS OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES.

WE DID, BY THE WAY, REACH OUT TO THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS DECLINED TO PARTICIPATE.

BUT DO YOU SEE DID SEND A STATEMENT THAT WE'LL GET TO SHORTLY.

JAMES, I WANT TO START WITH YOU.

WHILE YOU WERE INCARCERATED AT STATE BILL, YOU THEN PART OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT OVER THE SAFETY OF THE BUILDINGS.

WHAT WERE THE CONDITIONS LIKE THAT LED TO THAT SUIT?

>> WELL, THE CONDITIONS WERE THEY HAD ALL POOR INFRASTRUCTURE.

I MEAN, LITERALLY THE CEILING WOULD FALL APART.

PARTS OF THE WALL HAD CRACKS IN IT AND WATER WOODLEY THROUGH THE WATER WAS TOXIC.

YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND THEN BE REALLY BROWN.

IT HAD A VERY SHOOT.

IT SMELL TO IT.

IT WAS DISCUSSED AND YOU COULDN'T DRINK IT.

>> YOU GET WATER BOTTLES, AT LEAST RECOGNIZED.

>> WE'VE GOT WATER BOTTLES ONLY WIN.

THERE WAS A MAIN PIPE THAT HAD FIRST AND YOU NEED THE PART.

AND THEN THEY STARTED GIVING US THE WATER.

BUT ONCE THEY REPLACED THIS PART NO LONGER WERE RECEIVING THE BOTTLED WATER.

YOU HAVE TO PURCHASE IN THE COMMISSARY.

AND AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, NOT EVERYBODY KIND OF FORWARD TO BUY THE BOTTLE OF WATER.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD TO FORM OR FASHION.

>> AND THAT IS A LAWSUIT, BY THE WAY, THAT STILL ONGOING.

FROM MY UNDERSTANDING.

NOW, JENNY, LET'S TURN TO YOU.

YOU'RE YOUR GROUP HAS APPLAUDED THIS ACTION FROM THE STATE TEARING DOWN THESE 2 FACILITIES.

BUT CRITICAL ABOUT THAT.

THE SECOND PART OF THAT PLAN AND THAT IS THE REBUILDING.

WHY?

>> SO IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW, JUST IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, WE HAVE EXCESS CAPACITY INSIDE OUR PRISONS.

WE HAVE ABOUT 30,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED IN ILLINOIS.

>> AND WE HAVE CONSERVATIVELY IT LEASED SPACE FOR 42,000.

PEOPLE.

WE SIMPLY DON'T NEED ALL OF THESE PRISONS AND MANY OF THEM AS IS OUTLINED IN THE REPORT YOU MENTIONED AT THE TOP OF THIS PROGRAM FALLING APART.

THEY ARE DECREPIT.

THEY ARE UNSAFE.

THEY ARE INHUMANE.

SO I THINK WE NEED TO START ALLOCATING RESOURCES RESPONSIBLY AND SENSIBLY AND BUILDING MORE PRISONS, POURING MONEY INTO PRISONS THAT ARE OLD DECREPIT IS NOT A REASONABLE WAY TO GO FORWARD IN THE STATE OF ISRAEL.

ONES THEN YOU BE ABLE TO PERHAPS MOVE SOME OF THE INMATES TO THESE BETTER FACILITIES IF THE OTHERS ARE ALSO DECREPIT.

SO I WOULD SAY THAT THERE ARE SOME ARGUMENTS TO BE MADE THAT HAVING BUILDING VERY DIFFERENT KINDS OF FACILITIES MAY HAVE BENEFIT IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT THE CTO REPORT POINT OUT IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE APPROPRIATE PROGRAMMING SPACE OR THERAPEUTIC SPACE AND SO CONCEIVING OF THINGS DIFFERENTLY MIGHT HAVE SOME VALUE.

BUT I THINK WE COULD DO BETTER BY ALLOCATING RESOURCES TO KEEPING PEOPLE OUT OF PRISON IN MEETING THEIR NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND SEE JAIL.

BY THE WAY, IS THE CONSULTING GROUP THAT FORMED THAT REPORT.

NOW, MIKE, LET'S TURN TO YOU.

THE UNION ACKNOWLEDGING POOR CONDITIONS IN THESE PRISONS.

BUT CONCERNED ABOUT EVEN THE TEMPORARY CLOSURE.

SO HOW DO YOU BALANCE THOSE 2, 6?

YES, WELL, LET ME SAY FIRST, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TEMPORARY CLOSURE.

>> ADMINISTRATION IS TALKING ABOUT 3 TO 5 YEARS.

THAT'S NOT A SHORT-TERM NOTABLE OF MONTHS.

AND THERE WE ARE CONCERNED THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS THAT ARISE.

IN THE MEANTIME, WE WE DON'T AGREE IN TERMS OF THE NUMBER OF CAPACITY, PARTICULARLY OF MAXIMUM SECURITY BEDS, WHICH IS WHICH IS WHAT STATE BILL HAS PRIMARILY MAXIMUM SECURITY LOOKING AT THE OVERALL PRISON POPULATION VERSUS THIS CERTAIN TYPES OF SITUATIONS YOU WANT IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING?

YES.

AND AND AND MANY OF MANY OF BEDS AND OTHER PLACES ARE NOT >> NOT THE KIND SITUATIONS YOU WANT TO MOVE PEOPLE INTO ANYWAY, WE'RE CONCERNED THAT YOU THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH MAXIMUM SECURITY BEDS.

NOW, IF YOU CLOSE STATE BILL.

ARE THOSE INDIVIDUALS GOING TO GO?

WHAT HAPPENS TO STAFF WHO WORK IN THAT IN THOSE FACILITIES AND ALSO MIGHT POINT OUT THAT STATE BILL IS VERY CLOSE TO CHICAGO.

THAT PROXIMITY IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR INDIVIDUALS IN CUSTODY AND FOR THEIR FAMILIES IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO VISIT AND TO BE SORT OF RELEASE RETURN HOME.

>> YES, THAT'S WHAT SPECIALLY VISITATION.

AND LET ME EMPHASIZE, WE ARE NOT OPPOSED TO THE REBUILDING OF THESE FACILITIES AND FACT, I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY GROUP THAT ADVOCATED ANY MORE STRONGLY.

THEN WE HAVE.

FOR REPAIRS PUSHED ONTO THE THE POOR CONDITION OF THE PRISON.

SO WHAT IF YOU'RE NOT AGAINST THE PLAN, WHAT IS THE CONCERN THAT THEY WON'T BE REBUILT, THAT THEY'LL JUST BE DEMOLISHED AND THAT'S IT?

NO, THE PROBLEM, THE PLANT CONCERN IS WHAT HAPPENS IN THE 3 TO 5 YEARS.

>> IN BETWEEN WHEN THEY'VE BEEN BUILT.

>> WHERE THOSE WHERE THOSE INDIVIDUALS GO WE HAD A SITUATION LAST YEAR WHERE OVERNIGHT 300 INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE WHO WERE IN CUSTODY IN STATE BILL.

MOVED OVERNIGHT FOR A MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTION TO MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTION AND SHERIDAN SHERIDAN CORRECTIONAL CENTER IS THERE IS A PROGRAM CENTERED THAT DEALS WITH HELPS WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE ISSUES WHERE THE INDIVIDUALS THERE WANT TO GET THE TREATMENT.

TOTAL SAYING THESE POPULATIONS SHOULD BE NEXT.

TOTALLY DISRUPTED THE WHOLE PROGRAM, JAMES.

PLEASE, GO AHEAD.

I WANT TO GET YOUR REACTION TO THESE PLANS.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT.

>> IT'S INCORRECT DEPICTION TO SAY THAT EVERYONE THERE IS MAXIMUM SECURITY.

>> PRISONERS BECAUSE OF THE FACT PROGRAM AND THAT THE VAST MAJORITY THEM HAVE BEEN RECLASSIFIED TO BE ME STATUS, WHICH MEANS THEY ARE ELIGIBLE TO GO TO THESE MEDIA FACILITIES.

AND WHEN THEY MADE THAT 300 PLUS MOVE OF INMATES TO OTHER FACILITIES.

THERE WAS 0 INCIDENTS.

THERE WAS NO INCIDENTS WERE THERE.

THEY WERE HOUSED THERE FOR POSSIBLY A MONTH OR SO.

AND THERE WAS NO NURSE.

AND SO I WOULD SAY THAT IF YOU DO MAKE A MOVE TO HOUSE THESE INDIVIDUALS INTO THESE MEDIA FACILITIES, THAT IT WOULDN'T BE THAT DISRUPTED TO THEM ONLY TO THE EXTENT THAT THOSE THAT AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SO YOU'RE OKAY WITH THESE PLANS.

I SAY THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE THIS YEARS AGO.

I MEAN, THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EXISTING FOR THE LONGEST AND THEY KNEW ABOUT IT.

I WAS RECENTLY RELEASED IN DECEMBER HAD ALL MY BLOODWORK DRAWN.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE RESULTS ARE.

AND I'M REALLY WORRIED THAT BECAUSE I NO LONGER VIJ OTHER INDIVIDUALS.

HAD HIGH LEVELS OF LEAD AND OTHER TOXINS IN THEIR BODY BECAUSE THEY CONSUME THE WATER THERE.

STATE BILL.

>> YOU KNOW, I WANT TO GET TO THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION STATEMENT THAT READS IN PART THAT THIS PLAN FULLY ADDRESSES CONCERNS AT THE 2 FACILITIES FACING THE MOST SERIOUS AND EXPENSIVE MAINTENANCE ISSUES AND ENSURE THAT ABSENTEE MEMBERS CAN DO THEIR JOBS AND MODERN SAY FACILITIES.

IT IS NOT FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE OR FEASIBLE TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AND A CONTINUING EFFORT TO SHORT FACILITIES THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED FOR DECADES AND USE FOR OVER A CENTURY.

NOW, WE'VE TALKED A LOT ABOUT STATE, BUT WHAT ABOUT LOGAN?

LOGAN IS SIMILARLY LEE IN A STATE OF COMPLETE CEILINGS CAVING IN WATER ISSUES.

>> IS A COAL POWERED FACILITY.

IT IS ANTIQUATED.

IT IS UNSAFE AND FOR FOR WOMEN IN TRANSGENDER PRISONERS.

IF I'M LOGAN THE LARGEST WOMEN'S FACILITY WE HAVE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

IT WAS A MAIL FACILITY UP UNTIL ABOUT 2013, 2014 WHEN THEY MOVED WOMEN OVER THERE.

IT IS ACTUALLY A MIX.

SECURITY CLASSIFICATION FACILITY IN FRANKLY, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A VERY CHALLENGING PLACE BECAUSE OF THAT.

BUT THE INFRASTRUCTURE MAKES THINGS FAR WORSE.

SO I WHAT DOES YOUR ANSWER TO MY CONCERNS IN TERMS OF WHAT DO YOU DO WITH INMATES AND STAFF YEAH, WELL, FIRST OF ALL, NOBODY PUT FORWARD A PLAN AS TO WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE.

AND I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT WHAT IT MEANS TO MOVE PEOPLE TEMPORARILY.

WHERE ARE THEY OUR STAFF GOING TO FOLLOW.

I THINK THAT'S A LEGITIMATE CONCERN AND SOMETHING WE'D LIKE TO KNOW MORE ABOUT.

>> BUT I THINK WE'RE IN AGREEMENT STATE BILL SIMPLY CANNOT EXIST, CAN CONTINUE TO EXIST.

AGREEMENT AGREEMENT HERE, AT LEAST A PORTION OR THAT THAT ALL THE TIME THAT WE HAVE FOR NOW.

BUT I KNOW CONTINUED QUESTIONS OF THE PRITZKER ADMINISTRATION ABOUT THEIR PLANS.

YOU'LL BE ASKING, AS WILL WE.

>> BY THE WAY, YOU CAN READ MORE ABOUT JAMES SOTO'S.

A STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

>> AND THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 AT 10.

HOW THE END OF ENROLLMENT BASED BUDGETING COULD CHANGE CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

PLUS THE LATEST RESULTS AND THAT NECK-AND-NECK RACE FOR COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY.

AND MORE IN OUR SPOTLIGHT POLITICS SEGMENT.

NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, I'M AMANDA VIANEY THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTION WAS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT, A CLIFF AND CLIFFORD LAW OFFICES, A CHICAGO PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH FROM THAT.

HE'S PROUD TO BE A MULTI-LINGUAL