SPRINGFIELD –State and local governments would be banned from coordinating with companies who run for-profit civil detention centers under a bill sponsored by State Senator Omar Aquino (D-Chicago) that passed the General Assembly today.

“When there is a profit incentive attached to jailing people, real justice cannot exist,” said Aquino. “The current system values profits over justice, and as a legislator I need to do all I can to reverse that trend.”

House Bill 2040 would prohibit the State of Illinois, any unit of local government, county sheriff or state agency among others from coordinating the development of a private detention center.

Under current law, private criminal detention facilities are banned in Illinois, but civil detention centers such as immigration detainment facilities, mental health facilities and juvenile detention centers may still do business with state and local governments. House Bill 2040 would prohibit governments from dealing with these latter facilities.

“It is completely immoral to profit off of detaining people,” said Aquino. “That should not be a money-making scheme for the private sector. Instead, the State of Illinois should be rehabilitating people and preparing them to re-enter society as functioning, productive citizens.”

House Bill 2040 now awaits the governor’s signature to become law.