SPRINGFIELD, IL— Legislation sponsored by State Senator William Delgado (D-Chicago) and Representative Yarbrough (D-Chicago) will allow inmates to use video conferencing tools to visit with family members who can not visit in person. 

“It is important that inmates maintain a relationship with their families while they are incarcerated,” said Delgado. “These family ties tend to decrease recidivism rates and provide a support system for the inmate when they are paroled.”

House Bill 1995 will require the Department of Corrections to create a pilot program to allow inmates to remotely visit family members through interactive video conferencing.  Currently the Department of Corrections has 20 facilities across the state with these video conferencing capabilities.

Also, this bill authorizes the Department of Corrections to contract with third-party organizations to provide video conference facilities for family members to connect to the video conference.  In addition, this legislation allows the Department of Corrections to determine who is eligible to participate in the program and the times and conditions in which the video conferences may be conducted. 

"The ability to maintain communication and family connection is one of the most important elements of re-entry.  HB1995 provides an avenue for offenders and their families to maintain contact without the burdens and expenses of travel by leveraging existing technology.  This is an idea whose time has come," said IDOC Director Michael P. Randle.