SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A legislative proposal now awaiting Gov. JB Pritzker’s signature could lead to annual reporting on end-of-life care in Illinois prisons, a move that advocates say is long overdue amid a growing elderly inmate population.
More than 1,000 incarcerated individuals in Illinois are age 65 or older, and many are in need of hospice or palliative care services. However, Illinois currently has no standardized system — such care is offered on a prison-by-prison basis, leading to inconsistent treatment.
Push for Data and Consistency Across Facilities
Under House Bill 2397, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) would be required to submit a comprehensive annual report by December 1 each year. The report would include demographic data of prisoners receiving end-of-life care and detail how and where such services are provided.
Rep. Nicole Grasse (D-Arlington Heights), a chief sponsor of the bill, said the lack of a formal system has resulted in significant care disparities.
“What is provided in various facilities is not consistently provided among all of the facilities,” Grasse explained. “The reason for this data collection is really to have an understanding of what is provided, who does it, how we do it, and how we can improve it.”
The full legislation text is available through the Illinois General Assembly.
Bill Clears House and Senate on Party-Line Votes
The proposal passed both chambers on partisan lines, reflecting wider national debates over the treatment of aging inmates. Supporters argue the measure doesn’t just track care — it builds accountability and future policy improvement in a population often overlooked.
As reported by WAND News, the legislation landed on Gov. Pritzker’s desk last week, and his office has yet to comment on when or if he will sign it into law.
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