Advocates for imprisoned women are thanking Gov. Bruce Rauner for signing a law requiring gender-appropriate and informed practices in the Illinois women's prison and parole systems.
The Republican governor signed the measure drafted by the Chicago-based Women's Justice Initiative last month. It's part of the organization's effort to adopt practices that recognize trauma women offenders often have suffered, ready them for community re-entry and reduce recidivism.
A study by the group found that Illinois' women prisoners face unnecessary segregation, harsher discipline than men, and longer-than-necessary sentences.
Deanne Benos is director of the Women's Justice Initiative and former Illinois Department of Corrections assistant director. She says after the report the Rauner administration began a five-day training program for women's prison staff members.
