WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

SB 2445

"Strengthening Troop Retention for Our National Guard (STRONG) Act"; enact.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jeff Tate

SB 2445 would require IDOC to not deny original mail after security checks and expand clear, posted visitation rights with up to 7 visits/month and a 30-person approved list.

Died In Committee
#finance #veteransandmilitaryaffairs
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 2445

Summary — SB 2445 (STRONG Act): Amendment to 730 ILCS 5/3-7-2 (Facilities)

Status: Died in committee
Introduced by: Sen. Adriane Johnson
Introduced: 2025 (filed/received March 13, 2025)
Statutory target: Unified Code of Corrections — Section 3-7-2 (730 ILCS 5/3-7-2)

Purpose / Intent

SB 2445 would amend the statutory rules governing conditions of confinement in Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) institutions and facilities, with particular emphasis on inmates’ mail, visitation, and related access/notification requirements. The stated objective is to strengthen prisoners’ access to original physical mail and to set clearer limits on when the Department may withhold mail or restrict in-person visits.

Key provisions and changes

  • Mail distribution
    • Requires that IDOC institutions “shall not deny the distribution of original physical mail” to committed persons after incoming mail has been inspected and determined not to pose a security or safety threat.
    • Defines “threat to the security or safety of the institution or facility” to include any of the following situations:
    • Letters containing threats of physical harm or threats of criminal activity.
    • Threats of extortion or blackmail.
    • Information about sending contraband, plans to escape, or plans to engage in criminal activity.
    • Letters written in code unintelligible to staff.
    • Letters that violate departmental rules or contain plans to violate institutional rules.
    • Unauthorized correspondence with another incarcerated person.
    • Content that constitutes a violation of State or federal law.
  • Visitation and video contact
    • Affirms the right to in-person and video visits except when abused or when the chief administrative officer determines visits would be harmful to security, safety, or morale.
    • Entitles each committed person to up to 7 visits per month and to submit a list of at least 30 authorized visitors.
    • Requires the Department to maintain the visitor list in electronic form (language refers to implementation beginning Aug 1, 2019 in the draft).
    • Prohibits restricting or limiting in-person visits solely because interactive video conferencing is available.
    • Requires a written, standardized visitation policy at each facility specifying number/timing of visits, hours, and identification requirements; the policy must be posted on the Department website and at each facility.
    • Mandates daily posting on the Department website of any visitation restrictions or denials for the current day and the succeeding calendar days (including lockdown-based restrictions).
  • Other provisions
    • Reiterates existing provisions on access to bathing, recreation, legal and published materials, religious ministrations (subject to the Faith Behind Bars Act), and dietary/hygiene standards (text in the draft is partially garbled/truncated).

Who is affected

  • Committed persons (incarcerated individuals) — increased protection for receipt of original physical mail and clarified visitation entitlements.
  • Visitors and families — clearer rules on visitation rights, identification, and notification of restrictions.
  • Illinois Department of Corrections — new procedural and transparency obligations (mail inspections with determinations, posting policies and daily restriction notices, maintaining electronic visitor lists).
  • IDOC staff — potential operational impacts related to mail inspection, recordkeeping, and public postings.

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Transparency and family contact: The bill increases transparency about visitation restrictions and limits arbitrary denial of original physical mail when no security threat exists.
  • Operational burden: Implementing written policies, daily website postings, and conducting inspections with determinations may increase administrative workload and require staff training.
  • Security tradeoffs: Requiring distribution of original mail after inspection limits withholding but depends on robust inspection processes to prevent contraband, coded messages, or escape/illegal planning from reaching inmates.
  • Costs: The draft includes references to video calling cost recovery and prohibiting profit from video services (existing statutory language), so implementation may carry modest technology and administrative costs.

Procedural status

  • Introduced/Filed (received by Secretary): March 13, 2025 (also logged as filed Feb. 7, 2025 in the record)
  • Read first time / Referred to committee: March 25, 2025 (referred to Criminal Justice)
  • Final disposition: Died in Committee (did not advance to passage)

Note: The legislative draft provided includes some truncated and duplicated text; the summary focuses on the clearest substantive changes in the bill text (amendments to 730 ILCS 5/3-7-2).

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.