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Justice, Equity, and Opportunity
We can build stronger, healthier communities by listening to those most affected by the criminal legal system.
The JEO Initiative seeks to fulfill the Administration’s vision to shift the state’s justice system from unsuccessful or punitive approaches and toward just and equitable—and more restorative, inclusive, and cutting-edge—practices and programs. This is a first-of-its-kind effort in Illinois.
The JEO Initiative serves as a model for the nation by convening stakeholders and state agencies in a collaborative environment to coordinate a holistic effort to transform the criminal justice system. This includes supporting research and pilot programs that will test groundbreaking efforts, promoting restorative justice and providing data analysis to assess program efficiency and guide new efforts.
Below is a sampling of the innovative programs, pilots, and partnerships that are helping the JEO Initiative achieve this work.
Initiative Updates
Restore, Reinvest, and Renew (R3) Program
The R3 Program invests 25% of tax revenue from adult-use cannabis sales to fund grants that support communities most impacted by economic disinvestment, violence, and the severe and multi-layered harm caused by the War on Drugs. In total, the R3 Program Board has granted more than $280 million to over 400 community-based organizations across Illinois.
Healing Beyond Harm Restorative Justice Program
Through the HBH program, survivors of crimes can initiate a Restorative Dialogue with the person who caused them harm, facilitated by a trained, impartial restorative justice practitioner. The second component of the pilot is an Apology Letter Bank program, making Illinois the 21st state in the nation where survivors of crimes can consent to receive an apology letter from those who caused them harm. The Restorative Justice Pilot has launched in two IDOC facilities, and program partners are seeking to launch an enhanced HBH program in early 2026.
Returning Residents State ID Program
Obtaining a State ID, often required for housing and employment, is a major barrier to reentry for those without vital documents after release. The JEO Initiative partnered with the Office of First Lady MK Pritzker, the Illinois Secretary of State (SOS), and the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) to launch the State ID Pilot Program in 2020. The pilot’s success resulted in legislation, allowing the SOS to issue State IDs directly to those leaving custody. This program is crucial to better support returning residents as they begin a new chapter in their lives. As of January 2026, over 5,000 individuals have been released from IDOC facilities with a State ID card in hand.
Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice 21st Century Illinois Transformation Model
This model is designed to reduce the harm of incarceration for youth committed to the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice (IDJJ), particularly for Black youth who are disproportionately represented in the population. Through roundtable discussions, youth and their families explained the importance of having closer, more family-centric facilities with programs that connect them to viable resources in the communities where they will return after release. Seventy-five percent of the youth in IDJJ will have access to frequent family visits through the new model, which looks to bring love and compassion into rehabilitation practices and policymaking. In September 2025, IDJJ opened the Monarch Youth Center in Lincoln—the first IDJJ youth facility to open based on the 21st Century Transformation Model.
Higher Education in Prison (HEP)
In February 2025, the JEO Initiative partnered with the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) to convene the statewide Higher Education in Prison: Degrees of Change conference. The two-day event brought together over 150 stakeholders—including higher education leaders, state and local agencies, community organizations, and system-impacted individuals—to discuss the future of higher education in correctional settings throughout Illinois. Participants identified two priorities for improving education opportunities: enhancing access to technology across all 27 adult correctional institutions to support digital learning and fostering engagement with Illinois community colleges to expand associate degree programs for persons in custody.
Justice Collective: Community Conversations with the LG
The JEO Initiative hosts in-person convenings throughout the state between stakeholders and community members to employ insightful discussion, expand awareness, and encourage the exchange of ideas for further transformation within Illinois. In October 2023, the first convening with the Lieutenant Governor took place at BUILD, Inc., an R3 grantee site in Chicago's Austin neighborhood. The second convening was held in March 2024 at Artists ReEnvisioning Tomorrow (ART), Inc., an R3 grantee site in Peoria. A third convening is planned for mid-2026.