SPRINGFIELD — To protect incarcerated individuals’ access to communications with their loved ones, State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. led a measure through the Senate to ensure they can’t be charged a fee to receive mail.
“When you have limited communication and contact with loved ones, every moment of human connection matters,” said Sims (D-Chicago). “No one should be able to make a profit from the disenfranchisement of others.”
Under a rule that took effect last year, correctional facilities in Illinois can withhold certain physical mail and instead provide incarcerated individuals with scanned copies of their mail. Under Sims’ measure, incarcerated individuals could not be charged any fees for incoming mail nor would they be charged more than regular U.S. postal rates for mail delivery.
The prohibition would apply to any contracts with the state where a profit would be made from the electronic scanning of incarcerated people’s mail.
Further, Sims’ proposal would clearly establish that phone, mail or electronic communications cannot be used as a substitute for in-person contact. The goal is to ensure cost barriers do not prevent or restrict family connections or place individuals’ long-term reentry success at risk.
“The justice system must place rehabilitation, not financial gain, at the forefront,” Sims added. “This is a compassionate, common-sense step we can take now to ensure the new system does not hold people’s human connections above their head for a price.”
House Bill 4235 passed the Senate Thursday.
