OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
November 18, 2021
Anna Valencia City Clerk
Room 107, City Hall Chicago, IL 60602
Dear Ms. Valencia:
I transmit herewith for filing Executive Order No. 2021-3. Your prompt attention to this matter is appreciated.
Sincerely
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
CITY OF CHICAGO
LORI E. LIGHTFOOT
MAYOR
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 2021-3
WHEREAS, in Chicago, low-income people of color are disproportionately impacted by arrest and incarceration, and over 11,000 individuals return to Chicago each year upon their release from prison; and
WHEREAS, many of these Chicagoans lack an adequate education and job skills, and, upon their release, are likely to struggle with limited housing and employment options, and with physical and behavioral health issues; and
WHEREAS, returning residents—and their families and communities—are not provided with the supports, services, and investments needed to succeed, and this contributes to high rates of recidivism; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council ("SPAC") estimates that, ofthe people released from Illinois prisons each year, 17% recidivate within one year and 43% recidivate within three years; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago recognizes that persistent recidivism is fueled by structural barriers and inequities within the healthcare, housing, and workforce systems, which are shaped by systemic racism, gender discrimination, and discrimination based on one's arrest and conviction record; and
WHEREAS, the City of Chicago recognizes that the disruption families experience when a loved one is incarcerated can lead to generational cycles of trauma and poverty, which can be disrupted through meaningful investments; and
WHEREAS, it is imperative that the City supports returning residents through trauma-informed, evidence-based programs with track records of success and policies that remove barriers to opportunity for people with arrest and conviction records; and
WH...
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