Illinois Prison Dashboard
The following pages present data from the Illinois Department of Corrections on prison admissions, prison populations, prison exits, and MSR (parole). Click the buttons below to explore the data.
Introducing the Prison Dashboard
This dashboard is populated with public data made available on a biannually basis by the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). Our goal with this dashboard is to make it easier for justice system practitioners, policy makers, social service providers, advocates, and the public to access these data and examine statewide and regional trends in prison admissions, populations, exits, Mandatory Supervised Release (MSR) populations. The dashboard will be updated as data become available, ensuring timely access to the latest data on Illinois’ corrections system.
We hope that the public and all our partners striving to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the criminal justice system will use this dashboard to support the development of policy and practice that protects public safety, improves individual outcomes, and strengthens communities.
Key Dashboard Takeaways
Prison Admissions
There has been a steep decline in the number of individuals admitted to prison in Illinois. This downward trend is consistent across all regions of the state and for all demographics (age, race, sex). Admissions have declined, in part, due to decreased reliance on prison as a sentence for Class 3 and Class 4 felonies, the least serious felony classes, where probation has increasingly been used as an option.Explore Prison Admissions →Prison Population
The number of individuals in prison has also declined. Again, this downward trend is consistent across all regions of the state and for all demographics (age, race, sex). The decline in Illinois’ prison population reflects fewer admissions to prison and shorter lengths of stay for Class 1, 2, 3 and 4 felonies. As a result, the proportion of Illinois’ prison population serving time as a result of more serious, violent felony convictions has increased.Explore Prison Population →Prison Releases and Length of Stay
As admissions decline, so has the amount of time individuals are spending in prison. In recent years, the average time spent in IDOC custody has declined for people serving sentences for all felony classes (except Murder). This trend does not reflect sentencing patterns - the overall average sentence imposed remained stable. Rather, the decrease in average time in IDOC custody likely reflects increased access to credits for time served for pretrial electronic monitoring, good conduct while in prison, or completion of rehabilitative programming while in prison.Explore Prison Exits →MSR Population
Fewer admissions to prison combined with shorter lengths of time on MSR due to the Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today (SAFE-T) Act have resulted in a smaller MSR population.
Key Dates in Illinois Prison History
When exploring the Illinois Prison Dashboard, there are important law and policy changes and events to account for. When interpreting this dashboard, consider whether these changes could explain a sudden change in the data.
Neighborhood Safety Act
Neighborhood Safety Act- Expands number of low-level offenses that are eligible for probation and opportunities for incarcerated individuals to earn early release by participating in rehabilitative programming.
Criminal Justice Best Practices Act
Requires the IDOC to use evidence-based practices to supervise individuals on parole, focusing higher levels of supervision on those assessed as high risk.
COVID-19 Pandemic
Results in statewide stay at home orders, impacting crime and the operations of state’s law enforcement agencies, state’s attorney’s office and courts.
SAFE-T Act
Expands sentencing credit opportunities for incarcerated individuals and reduces the length of MSR for most felonies.