We believe a better world is possible—one without prisons.
To help create this future, we fight for the dignity and release of people in prison, advocating to shift resources away from incarceration and toward things that truly keep us safe, like housing, healthcare, and education.
Our Work.
No New Prisons Campaign
In 2024, Governor Pritzker allocated $900 million of Illinois residents' tax dollars to rebuild two prisons, intending to replace Stateville and Logan.
The No New Prisons Illinois Campaign is a coalition dedicated to preventing the construction of these, and any other, state prisons in Illinois.
Prison Water Crisis
Water at Illinois state prisons is contaminated with harmful substances, including toxic metals like lead and copper, as well as Legionella bacteria, which causes Legionnaires’ disease.
​
We're calling on Governor J.B. Pritzker to take immediate action to ensure that everyone in prison has access to safe, clean water.
.jpg)
Lauren Metlock Fellowship
The inaugural Lauren Metlock Memorial Fellowship honors one of our fearless founding members. Lauren tirelessly fought for her incarcerated loved ones—speaking at rallies, meeting the press, and demanding justice. This fellowship supports someone with currently incarcerated loved ones in Illinois to share their story and turn it into action, just as Lauren did.
Coalition History.
2020
End IL Prison Lockdown Coalition
Originally named the End IL Prison Lockdown Coalition, we formed in direct response to the Illinois Department of Corrections' (IDOC) failed policies to stop the spread of COVID-19 in its prisons.
Throughout the first year, incarcerated people in IDOC were not only suffering from alarmingly high rates of the virus, but also from extreme and unending lockdowns.
We came together as a group of incarcerated people, loved ones, activists, and creatives working to end the lockdowns, safely restore in-person visits, and advocate for mass release. ​
2021 & Beyond
The Coalition to Decarcerate IL
After a year of organizing direct actions, trainings, and fighting for the physical and mental health of our community members in prison, we came to the conclusion that our work is far from over.
Though the lockdowns have eased, in-person visits have been restored, and programming is returning, the overall cruelty of prison remains. As the Coalition to Decarcerate IL, we remain committed to fighting against incarceration and advocating for the rights and dignity of incarcerated people and their loved ones.