8/6/08 - Throwing Away the Key
600 S. Michigan, Chicago

This year marks the anniversary of two notorious landmarks of Illinois corrections—it has been 30 years since the abolition of parole and 10 years since the opening of Tamms supermax prison. Now two House Bills have been introduced to restore some balance between punishment and rehabilitation.

Speakers discussed the shattering impact of long-term sentencing laws, and the psychological and physical damage caused by prolonged solitary confinement.

StillPoint Theater presented an excerpt from “Sisters Rising” in which ten formerly incarcerated women tell their story.

The event was held in anticipation of upcoming public hearings on HB 4154, the Elderly Prisoner Sentence Adjustment Act, and HB 6651, the Tamms Supermax Prison Reform Bill, and was moderated by WVON talk radio host Cliff Kelley.

Below is Audio recorded at the event in compressed wav format
Full forum (2.5 hrs)
Individual Speakers :
Ted Pearson introduces event
'Sisters Rising' presented by StillPoint Theater
Ted Pearson introduces legislators, begins forum
Madeleine Ward
Duffy Clark
Geraldine Smith
Ra Chaka
Johnnie Walton
Daryl Cannon
Cliff Kelley introduction, 2, 3
Jean Maclean Snyder
Jim Chapman
Ibi Cole
Rev. Paul Ford
Bill Ryan
Laurie Jo Reynolds