Become a Member and Partner for Continued Second Chances

According to the Illinois Department of Corrections Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Report, in Illinois at the end of the 2015 Fiscal Year, the prison population was 47,165 inmates.

Of the 47,165 inmates,

• 20.1% had at least one child (9,477 inmates),

• 1.9% were veterans (902 inmates),

• 19.0% - 19.7% possessed a high school diploma or GED (8,953 - 9,271 inmates),

• 71.8% were single (33,863 inmates),

• 14.7% were married (6,956 inmates).
  
  

Of the 47,165 inmates,

• men who were released and placed on parole was 90.7% (25,820 ex-offenders)

• women were 9.3% (2,658 ex-offenders).
  
  

There were 4 adult transition centers – correctional facilities.

Pre-Release

According to A Portrait of Prisoner Reentry in Illinois, a study conducted and published by the Urban Institute in April 2003, “the first year after release is critical in determining whether an offender will reoffend or return to prison after having been released from custody, and it accounts for nearly two-thirds of all reoffending during the first three years out.” Bridge to Freedom believes that the reason an ex-offender reoffends is a lack of maturity on the part of the ex-offender, a failed to nonexistent support system to assist during the transition back into the ex-offender’s community, and a lack of sufficient employment opportunities.

Post-Release

A Portrait of Prisoner Reentry in Illinois also states that, “post-release supervision serves two primary functions with regard to preventing such recidivism: (1) promoting the successful reintegration of inmates back into society and (2) monitoring released offenders for public safety purposes.” Bridge to Freedom first begins the transition process with the offender one year prior to release. Bridge to Freedom ensures that ex-offenders are successfully reintegrated back into society through B2F's mentorship program, workshops, job readiness training, and budgeting classes. Ex-offender participants must comply with their release terms (meeting with their parole officers, etc.) in order to remain participants in B2F’s reentry program.

Member Invitation Letter, Membership Agreement, and Membership Plan