Rauner names commission to reduce prison population

Posted on March 5, 2015

The Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform aims to reduce the state's prison population by 25 percent in 10 years. (Photo by seantoyer/flickr)

By Metro News Service

SPRINGFIELD – There is a new commission in Illinois designed to help fix the state's prison system. 

Gov. Bruce Rauner announced the names Wednesday of the 28 members of the Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform. 

The group will be led by Illinois Public Safety Director Rodger Heaton. Its goal is to reduce the state's prison population by 25 percent in the next decade. 

Rauner says the prison system is too crowded, costly and doesn't do an effective job of preventing repeat offenders. 

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