Department of Corrections (DOC) Secretary Jared Hoy and agency leadership met with over 40 friends and family members of incarcerated individuals at the Kolb Center on the Fox Lake Correctional Institution campus during the department’s first Friends and Family Forum.
The forum is part of a broader initiative to improve communication and collaboration between the DOC and the loved ones of those in its care or under supervision. Secretary Hoy emphasized the vital role that families and friends play in rehabilitation and successful community reintegration.
Participants engaged in small group discussions covering topics such as treatment, healthcare, family connections, the complaint system, and reentry. DOC staff were present to listen and gather feedback. Hoy also addressed pre-submitted questions about accountability, phone services, visitation, and other key concerns.
Emily Curtis, whose loved one is incarcerated at Stanley Correctional Institution, praised the event as a step in the right direction, while expressing that the true measure will be in the outcomes that follow.
The DOC will post responses to additional questions on its Friends and Family webpage, and plans to use the feedback to enhance future engagement and potentially host more forums.
“This is just the beginning,” said Hoy. “We’re committed to listening, learning, and building a better system together with the families and friends of those in our care.”
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