Class X: Who Gets a Second Chance in Our Criminal Justice System?

Illinois has been making moves toward reducing incarceration, but there is a large group of people who are being left behind. People like 21-year-old Joe Montgomery, who have been sentenced with Class X felonies, make up almost a third of Illinois’ prison population according to the Illinois Department of Corrections. Some say these individuals who need the most help are instead left with few options but prison. City Bureau reporters Sajedah Al-khzaleh and Bia Medious spoke with Montgomery’s friends and family about the hole his absence means to his community. This piece was produced in collaboration with City Bureau, a Woodlawn-based civic journalism lab. For more information go to www.citybureau.org. Music heard in this story is “Cool Curves” by producer Jumega Silverback. The bumper at the beginning featured Chicago scholar, artist, and activist Eve Ewing and was produced by Jed Lickerman. For more news, visit www.southsideweekly.com.

Nigel—Montgomery’s godbrother—at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation holding up pictures of Montgomery (Photo: Davon Clark).

By Sajedah Al-Khzaleh and Bia Medious.

Illinois has been making moves toward reducing incarceration, but there is a large group of people who are being left behind. People like twenty-one-year-old Joe Montgomery, who have been sentenced with Class X felonies, make up almost a third of Illinois’ prison population, according to the Illinois Department of Corrections. Some say these individuals who need the most help are instead left with few options but prison. City Bureau reporters Sajedah Al-khzaleh and Bia Medious spoke with Montgomery’s friends and family about the hole his absence means to his community.

This report was produced in partnership with the South Side Weekly.