Prior to the Richard Speck tape, IDOC supported organizations and programs for prisoners. One of the most successful groups was the Goal Jaycees. The Jaycees, a national organization known for its business ties and integrity, partnered with Illinois prisoners and created a franchised business called Goal Jaycees. Appropriately named Goal because it was an effort from a big business brand that taught Illinois prisoners business skills and civic responsibility. The national organization sold food goods at wholesale prices to the Goal Jaycees, who resold those products at retail prices to prisoners which generated millions of dollars of profit statewide. The Goal Jaycees was a not for profit chartered organization so all the profits were donated to different causes. Goal Jaycees used some of the money to supplement the needs of rehabilitative programs within IDOC such as drug counseling, materials for vocational classes and craft shops. They also paid for funeral furlough and ordered wreaths to be sent to funeral services on behalf of prisoners dealing with the loss of family members. Goal Jaycees paid for needed services like these and more inside Illinois prisons at no cost to taxpayers as well as donated to little league programs, fire departments and other organizations in the small communities where the prisons were located. The program trained prisoners how to operate business and charitable organizations. Goal Jaycees also organized under “Roberts’ Rule of Order” training prisoners in the duties and responsibilities of company offices.
The greatest value of the Goal Jaycees was the pride it instilled in the prisoners. By supporting some of the needs within the prison and the outside groups, prisoners had an investment in the success of the rehabilitation process. IDOC supported and allowed other prisoner organizations such as the Lifers group which was modeled after the Jaycees. They sold clothes and cosmetics and all profits went to prison upkeep and charities. Due to the collaboration between IDOC, Goal Jaycees and Lifers group, two prominent cultural groups were created. These groups were the African African-American Cultural Coalition (AAACC) and the Latin Cultural Exchange Coalition (LCEC). The main focus of these groups were to build and improve adverse relationships between prisoners caused by negative actions and poor decision making. AAACC and LCEC sought out political and religious leaders who were invited to speak and educate the prison population on important issues concerning community and faith. Relationships with these speakers were maintained to research and create solutions for the problems plaguing the communities with the highest incarceration rates. These groups strived to break the hold of the gang mentality in prisons by educating prisoners about their rich cultural histories, of which many were totally unaware.
IDOC supported these positive efforts and the success of these groups before the Richard Speck tape shifted resources too far toward security and eliminated these positive organizations and beneficial programs. Prior to the Speck tape, intramural sports programs were a strong positive benefit to the prison culture. Through participation in organized sports, prisoners built social skills and practiced teamwork which created a culture of tolerance and respect. Prisoners coached, practiced and competed in basketball, weight lifting, softball, volleyball, track, boxing, soccer, chess and many other activites. IDOC also had leagues and activities for older inmates. Prison bands performed regularly; actors produced, directed and performed in original plays and talent shows.
All of these positive activities were discontinued and prisoner activities ranged from very limited to absolutely nothing at all is the legacy Richard Speck left the inmates at IDOC with. Every prisoner continues to be punished for Speck’s wrong doings and he continues to control our lives from his grave while costing the state millions of dollars. Richard Speck’s negative influence on Illinois prisons need to end now.