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“Illinois releases nearly 18,000 people a year. About 7,400 are age 40 and over.
RCHD Programs
Each year, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) releases about 17,000–18,000 people from state prisons. While reentry is challenging for all, a distinct subset faces unique and compounded barriers: those who are age 40 and older and have served 15 or more consecutive years behind bars. This is the population that Returning Citizens In Memory of Henry Dee (RCHD) was created to serve.
These individuals typically entered prison as teenagers or young adults and are now reentering society in middle age or later. They struggle with foundational life skills including, but not limited to:
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Missed Adulthood: Those incarcerated since their teens or early 20s have never had adult experience with jobs, leases, taxes, or digital technology.
Trauma & Health: Long sentences coincide with aging-related health issues, trauma, and the compounded stigma of both age and criminal record.
Technology Gap: Many released in middle to late adulthood struggle with basics like email, smartphones, and online applications, leaving them isolated in a tech-driven society.
Housing Barriers: Returning individuals also lack rental history, credit, or references, making private housing access nearly impossible.
Social Adjustment: Decades of incarceration disrupt interpersonal skills, community reintegration, and the ability to navigate ordinary conflicts (with landlords, neighbors, or employers).
Programs
Welcome Home Initiative (WHI): Immediate essentials (hygiene, clothing, food) within 72 hours.
Support & Housing Initiative (SHI): Transitional and permanent housing, with landlord recruitment and subsidy partnerships.
Red Door Prison Outreach: Pre-release support for those nearing the gate, ensuring a smooth transition.
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LinkUp Referral Program: Navigation and warm hand-offs to employment, mental health, legal aid, and benefits.
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