I've been saying that I think there needs to be outside agencies to evaluate prisons. I guess there is in Ill.
Praise from the John Howard Association

Prison monitoring group comments on recent evaluation of system

July 22, 2003 - The John Howard Association of Chicago has been working for decades to improve prison operations and conditions in Illinois and across the United States. Corrections administrators often work with the association to improve programs and focus public debate on the many issues that impact prison operations. Staff of the prison watchdog group visits Illinois prisons and provides comments and criticism on a regular basis. Recently, the association completed a sweeping tour of Illinois prisons to assess the impact of Governor Blagojevich's new administration. A summary of that report is provided.


Summary

In the past several months, a time period that has witnessed significant change at the Illinois Department of Corrections (turnover due to the early retirement incentive, a new director, integration of formed condemned unit inmates into the general IDOC population), the John Howard Association for Prison Reform has visited several IDOC correctional facilities as part of its on-going work as Illinois' correctional watchdog.
Such times of organizational change represent times of increased stress for organizations. Leadership, consistency, morale and other attributes of organizational culture are at risk for difficulties and setbacks. We conducted our facility visitations with these concerns in mind.

The John Howard Association congratulates the men and women of the Illinois Department of Corrections for exceptional teamwork and leadership during this challenging time. Our impression is that, while some programs and services have been cut back due to fiscal and personnel shortages, IDOC safety and standards have not been compromised, and that a 'can do' attitude pervades. New leadership continues to emerge. IDOC employees are a proud and professional bunch, and it shows.

Please accept our thanks for a job well done. We know that the challenges presented in the past year are not completely gone and that hard work remains ahead. We encourage you to persevere.

We welcome Director Roger E. Walker Jr. and the new leadership at IDOC, and we pledge to continue our productive and collaborative relationship with IDOC as we meet the challenges ahead.

James R. "Chip" Coldren, Jr., President
Charles A. Fasano, Director, Prisons and Jails Program

The John Howard Association
www.johnhowardassociation.org

I won't comment on this. Having read it myself and sent a copy to Menard, and getting a reply to it, I won't repeat what was said.
If anyone trusts the John Howard Association then I'd like to know about it!!!!

Rose

What the hell? Are they out of their minds? Who paid this one off?

Ha Ha Oso's Girl, I'm with you on this one.

I"ve never heard of the John Howard association. Does anyone know how these evaluations are done? When they made visits to prisons, was it with them knowing when the visit was? Do they talk to the prisoners or get evals from them?

John Howard Association for Prison Reform is what they call themselves but, from what I understand, they are certainly not that. Seems they won't do or say anything to 'upset' those who are running the prisons so it's my guess, when they visit the facilities they do so with everything closed. You know, like the 3 Wise Monkeys. See no evil, Hear no evil and Speak no evil!!!

Rose