Info, Letters, & Updates To & From Our Community
Men’s NPEP Program Moves to Sheridan Correctional Center
By Donnell Green
On September 3, 2024, the Northwestern Prison Education Program transferred its first incarcerated individuals to Sheridan Correctional Center to begin its Fall Quarter. The long-awaited move came on the heels of Governor JB Pritzker’s announcement to close Stateville Correctional Center for various foundational issues.
The transfer was a several-week process that ensured students were timely situated to begin classes. Roughly 65 individuals were transferred to Sheridan Correctional Center and were joined by a new cohort, Cohort 5, just beginning the program. All school-related materials were shipped to Sheridan to offset any inconveniences incurred from the transfer.
Prior to the move, Stateville had been in the news for various issues, mainly water insecurity. On June 19, Northwestern graduate Michael Broadway died of a heat-related asthma attack while awaiting transfer to Sheridan. Despite these issues, Stateville correctional officers fought to keep Stateville open, citing fears of unemployment due to the facility's closure.
Sheridan Correctional Center is located in Sheridan, Illinois, roughly 35 miles away from Stateville. Sheridan is a medium-security facility. “Moving to Sheridan is a sigh of relief and a better living quality,” said Christopher Douglas of Cohort 3. the Scenes at “Look at Me, Raise Your Hand”
Celebrating Freedom: Lester Carroll, Paul Forbes, Paul Modrowski, and Rochelle Sephus Released
NPEP celebrates the release of four students: Lester Carroll, Paul Forbes, Paul Modrowski, and Rochelle Sephus. Their journeys from incarceration to freedom mark a profound moment of hope and transformation within our community.
Lester, Paul, Paul, and Rochelle have demonstrated remarkable dedication to education and personal growth during their time in the program, embodying resilience and the power of learning. As NPEP students, they not only pursued academic excellence but also contributed to the strength and vitality of their cohort through collaboration and mutual support.
Their release is a testament to the potential for second chances and the importance of programs that nurture intellectual and personal development. While we will miss their presence in class, we are thrilled for the opportunities that await them and remain committed to supporting their futures.
Congratulations, Lester Carroll (COHORT 1), Rochelle Sephus (LOGAN), Paul Modrowski (COHORT 2 ), and Paul Forbes (COHORT 4) — your NPEP family stands with you!
In Memory: Janice Mandoline, an NPEP parent and community advocate
In November 2024, Janice Mandoline, the mother of NPEP student Todd Mandoline, unexpectedly passed. Todd’s mother, Janice, and his father, Fred, came to almost every NPEP community hour and event, sharing their warmth, care, and love with everyone around them.
Janice’s deep, unwavering love for Todd was apparent to anyone who met her. Some may remember the beautiful play Todd wrote in Rebecca Gilman’s class about his mom singing “You Are My Sunshine” to him, later performed by the Goodman Theatre in April 2023.
To celebrate Janice’s life, donations can be made to Koinonia House, R.T.O Ministry.
Updates from the Illinois Legislature
By Lynn Green
For this issue, I’m providing an update on HB5396, the Corrections Medical Release Bill, and HB 3288.
On April 17, 2024, HB5396, sponsored by Representative Will Guzzardi and Senator Rachel Ventura, passed its third reading in the House and was placed on the calendar for its first reading in the Senate on April 18, 2024. By November 14, 2024, the bill had picked up four additional senate co-sponsors: Senators Javier L. Cervantes, Adriane Johnson, Lakesia Collins, and Kimberly A. Lightford.
This bill seeks to amend the Unified Code of Corrections and proposes changes to how medical release petitions are handled by the Prisoner Review Board. Key Provisions of the Bill:
No Additional Restrictions: The bill ensures that the Prisoner Review Board cannot impose extra restrictions or requirements beyond those specified by law for medical release petitions.
Public Notice: If a petitioner qualifies for medical release, the board must publicly share the petitioner's name, docket number, legal counsel, and hearing date.
Record Sharing: The Department of Corrections must provide a copy of the petitioner’s evaluation and any records to the petitioner or their attorney when a hearing is scheduled.
Public Hearings: Hearings on medical release applications will be open to the public unless the petitioner requests a private hearing. Anyone can attend these hearings without restrictions.
Denial Transparency: If a medical release petition is denied, the Prisoner Review Board must publish a letter explaining the reasons for the denial, detailing the legal factors considered and the estimated costs of the petitioner’s continued incarceration, including medical care.
Why It Matters: This bill is part of broader efforts to increase transparency and accountability within the Illinois Prisoner Review Board, especially regarding decisions on medical clemency. Under the current system, when an emergency medical petition is denied, no explanation is required.
For example, John Doe, an inmate at Stateville Correctional Center, was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer by Northwestern Medical on February 10, 2024. He was informed he had less than 90 days to live. Despite filing for medical clemency on March 4, 2024, and meeting the qualifications, his petition was denied without an explanation. If the new law were in effect, John Doe would have been granted a public hearing and would have received a detailed explanation if denied.
A related bill, HB3288, which has passed its third reading in both the House and the Senate, is also designed to increase the professionalism and the transparency of the Prisoner Review Board. Amongst other things, the bill mandates that members of the Prisoner Review Board participate in annual training on the corrections system, rehabilitative corrections and programming, and domestic violence. It also provides that people petitioning for clemency, medical release, and parole have the opportunity to appear before the Prisoner Review Board in person or through interactive video.
NPEP Graduate Jimmy Soto Brings Lawsuit Against City of Chicago For Wrongful Incarceration
James Soto, an NPEP graduate who was exonerated in December 2023 after serving 42 years in prison for a double murder he did not commit, is suing Chicago police officers, Cook County assistant state’s attorneys, the city of Chicago, and Cook County. Soto was wrongfully convicted in 1981 at the age of 20, alongside his cousin, David Ayala.
Soto graduated with his bachelor's degree from Northwestern University in 2023 at Stateville Correctional Center. Today, he works as a paralegal and hopes to use his case to send a message about the injustice of wrongful convictions.
Spirituality Column - Call for Submissions
By William Peeples
My name is William ‘Shafiq’ Peeples Jr., and I’ve been afforded the incredible opportunity to create and develop a column on spirituality for the Northwestern Insider. This is a privilege, but also a responsibility, and I am here to serve, to teach, to learn, and to encourage. I am a Muslim! But I am not here to promote Islam.
My goal, my sincere hope, is that this column will cause us to reflect upon and discover our individual and inherent connection to The Creator, and one another. This is not a religious column, as religion is a specific and detailed system of belief, and ritual practice. This is about spiritual development and universal principles that are found in the natural inclinations of all sentient beings, whether they be Muslim, Jew, Christian, agnostic, or atheist. Irrespective of what we believe in, we can all agree that we desire to love and be loved, to be happy, to be safe, and to have food, shelter, clothing, and the amenities of life.
Toward that end, we might want to cultivate the best in self and others. So, my aim is not to get you to believe in Allah—my hope is to spark within each of us the desire to find a divine way of seeing ourselves and have that translate into how we move and engage with the world around us.
Please be clear, this is not my column. This is our column. As such, I am counting on interested members of the community to write also. I am the “development editor,” which means sometimes I will write the content of the column; but more often than not, I will “help” others develop their own contributions to the column.
Motivational Column - Call for Submissions
By Flynard Miller
Hello to everyone in the NPEP community and at home. I bring to you this exciting opportunity to be part of something historic.
My name is Flynard Miller. Everyone knows me as Fly, and I am currently housed at Sheridan Correctional Center. I am a writer and have completed all the requirements for my bachelor’s degree from Northwestern. Like William Peeples, I am serving in an unofficial capacity as “development editor” for a column in the Northwestern Insider. This column is focused on motivation and will feature writing that uplifts and motivates individuals impacted by the carceral system, empowering them and helping them cope and feel better about themselves.
This is a submission call-out to anyone in the NPEP community who would like to have an article published in the section of the magazine. If you would like to write something inspirational or self-helpful for our readers, please note that when you submit your piece in your story submission form.
Insider Law - Call for Submissions
By Lynn Green
Have thoughts or updates on laws and policies that impact you or your community? The Northwestern Insider is launching a legal column to spotlight insights, updates, and reflections on the law. Whether you want to discuss recent legislative changes, share how a specific law has affected you, explore broader legal topics, or something else, we want to hear your voice.
This column aims to create a space for informed discussion and awareness about the legal landscape and its influence on our lives. It’s an opportunity to educate, connect, and spark meaningful conversations within the NPEP community.
To contribute, send your submission or ideas to Lynn Green in Cohort 1, Coln Hanner, or Barbara Shwom. Let’s work together to shed light on the law and its role in shaping our world.
Community News - Call for Submissions
Whether you have a court case update, academic achievement, extracurricular highlight, or personal milestone, this is your chance to share your progress and inspire others.
This section aims to celebrate the wins, big and small, of our community while fostering connection and awareness of the incredible work being done by your peers. By sharing your story, you can motivate others and contribute to a greater sense of unity within NPEP.
To submit your update, please share your news in a brief description with someone within the Northwestern Insider. Let’s make this space a showcase for our collective growth and success!
Cohort 2 Raises Funds to Build Well In Memory of Michael Broadway
By Leon Fields
Professor Jennifer Baker impressed upon us the idea of leadership being tangible, practical, and empowering. During our "Principles of Leadership" course, someone stood up and said, "We always want someone to answer our prayers, but when will we be willing to answer the prayers of others?"
On Juneteenth 2024, we lost our beloved brother, Northwestern University alumnus Michael Broadway. In addition, we had been dealing with a perpetual water crisis at Stateville Correctional Center.
With this in mind, we, the students of Cohort 2, along with one of the beloved mothers of NPEP, Yolanda Fields, decided to honor Michael Broadway by raising funds to sponsor the construction of a water well in the village of Mailao in Chad, Africa. The well was constructed through the "Fountains of Hope" program, sponsored by Embrace Relief Foundation.
The well was erected and fully functioning in October 2024, and now hundreds of families living near it will remember our beloved brother while having a safe, accessible, and indispensable source of clean water for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and cultivating.
Photo courtesy of Embrace Relief
