Joe Coleman
Joe Coleman, 81, died at Menard, an Illinois prison, on October 3, 2019, after a long battle with prostate cancer. He was a father to six children and a grandfather to nine, a Vietnam veteran, and president of Lifers Inc., where he raised money for prison improvements and local charities. Jennifer Soble, executive director of the Illinois Prison Project, wrote in an opinion piece that he received care from a prison medical system she described as overburdened and underfunded, even though he was entitled to full veterans' medical benefits. She cited his death in calling for parole reform and a more meaningful compassionate release process.
Cause of death, as reported: Died of illness (neglect alleged). Jennifer Soble, executive director of the Illinois Prison Project, writes that he died of prostate cancer and that the overburdened prison medical system failed to give him adequate care, while he was entitled to full veterans' medical benefits.
Reported by: Jennifer Soble, executive director of the Illinois Prison Project (opinion piece) (advocates).