8/6/08 - Throwing Away the Key
600 S. Michigan, Chicago

This year marks the anniversary of two notorious landmarks of Illinois corrections—it has been 30 years since the abolition of parole and 10 years since the opening of Tamms supermax prison. Now two House Bills have been introduced to restore some balance between punishment and rehabilitation.

Speakers discussed the shattering impact of long-term sentencing laws, and the psychological and physical damage caused by prolonged solitary confinement.

StillPoint Theater presented an excerpt from “Sisters Rising” in which ten formerly incarcerated women tell their story.

The event was held in anticipation of upcoming public hearings on HB 4154, the Elderly Prisoner Sentence Adjustment Act, and HB 6651, the Tamms Supermax Prison Reform Bill, and was moderated by WVON talk radio host Cliff Kelley.