Children of Incarcerated Parents Report & Recommendations
January 27, 2021 - CHICAGO, IL
Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton and State Representative Delia Ramirez publicly released the final report and recommendations from the Task Force on Children of Incarcerated Parents. The Task Force was created through legislative statute in 2019 for the purpose of developing recommendations to address the effects of incarceration on families throughout Illinois.
“The consequences of incarceration reverberate for generations to come, and the trauma of parental incarceration for children is often ignored,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “The recommendations of this Task Force are an important step towards creating a more equitable future for all Illinois children, and I am grateful to the Task Force for its work on these important issues.”
Led by State Rep. Delia Ramirez and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s Justice Equity and Opportunity Initiative, the task force included 25 members of state and local law enforcement, legislators, the adult and juvenile corrections systems, members of the academic community, individuals who had been incarcerated, and children of incarcerated parents.
Cabrini Green Legal Aid provided subject matter expertise and support to the Task Force. Recommendations include: ensuring family visitation options at all detention facilities statewide, involving youth in the development of training for law enforcement, implementing policies to reduce trauma at all points of contact, and creating a standing commission to continue addressing these issues moving forward.
“It has been an honor and a humbling experience to serve on the Task Force for Children of Incarcerated Parents” State Rep. Delia Ramirez stated, “Our goal has been, and continues to be, centering the voices of individuals impacted by parental incarceration in the development of policy solutions that address these issues. Implementing the recommendations in this report will help us to better meet the needs of children and families impacted by parental incarceration.”
The Task Force’s full report and recommendations can be accessed here: bit.ly/COIPREPORT
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