SPRINGFIELD – In an effort to bring transparency and dignity to end-of-life care in Illinois correctional facilities, State Senator Adriane championed a measure that would require the Illinois Department of Corrections to publish annual reports on its hospice and palliative care programs.

“No one should face death alone and without dignity, regardless of where they are,” said Senator Johnson (D-Buffalo Grove). “This legislation will help us understand how the state is treating people at the end of their lives and allow lawmakers to make informed decisions on how to improve care for incarcerated individuals.”

Senate Bill 1524, an initiative of Access Living, was introduced in honor of Eddie Thomas—a man who died alone in a prison infirmary just five months after receiving a lung cancer diagnosis, without access to any end-of-life care.

Under the measure, the IDOC would be required to publish an annual report on its website by Dec. 1 of each year detailing the use and administration of hospice and palliative care programs. The report must include demographic data of individuals who received care, the total number of individuals enrolled in hospice and palliative care programs, the average length of stay in these programs, the number of individuals who died while receiving care compared to those who died without it, the department’s current policies and administrative directives regarding end-of-life care, information on staff available to provide hospice and palliative care, and the overall cost of administering these programs.

The U.S. leads the world in incarceration, with more than two million people currently behind bars. The prison population is aging rapidly, with the percentage of incarcerated individuals aged 55 and older rising from 3% in 1991 to 15% in 2023. In Illinois alone, around 1,000 people over the age of 55 are serving long-term sentences, many of whom face the likelihood of dying in prison.

Despite this reality, hospice and palliative care are still rare in U.S. correctional systems. Of the 1,566 state prisons nationwide, only 75 have hospice programs. Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life for those with serious illnesses by managing symptoms and ensuring treatment aligns with a person’s goals and values. Hospice care—provided in the final stages of life—offers comprehensive comfort care when curative treatment is no longer pursued.

“SB 1524 is a first step toward building a more humane and accountable system,” said Johnson. “Everyone deserves compassionate care—especially at the end of life.”

Senate Bill 1524 passed the Senate and heads to the House for further consideration.