Groups Seek End to Sex-Offender Turnaround Policy in Illinois

Prison reform groups are asking the Illinois Supreme Court to stop a state practice forcing more than 1,000 sex offenders to serve parole behind bars because they have no appropriate place to live.

The (Bloomington) Pantagraph reports that 17 advocacy groups delivered a petition to the high court on behalf of Johnny Cordrey. He had to stay in prison beyond his April 2013 release date.

There are 1,100 sex offenders subject to a decade-old "turnaround" policy which bars release of a sex offender if he or she doesn't have housing approved by state officials.

The MacArthur Justice Center at Northwestern University School of Law and the Uptown Peoples' Law Center prepared the petition.

Spokeswoman Stacey Solano says the Illinois Department of Corrections is following the law.