(WGN) — The Illinois Department of Corrections doesn't know how many recently released prisoners have gone on to commit new crimes, WGN Investigates has learned.

Tracking recidivism rates are a key metric to determine whether the state is effectively rehabilitating convicted criminals or merely warehousing them. In fact, reducing recidivism is mentioned two dozen times in IDOC's most recent annual report. However, IDOC officials acknowledge they have not been able to calculate the recidivism rate since 2022 due to what they describe as a computer "programming issue."

In 2022, the last time the number was updated, IDOC reported just under 37-percent of inmates re-offended within three years of their release.

The blind spot is happening at the same time IDOC has refused an offer of help -

See Full Page