top of page

Abolition requires us all.

RESOURCES FOR LOVED ONES AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS

LEGAL

I NEED LEGAL AND/OR CLEMENCY SUPPORT FOR MY LOVED ONE.

  • Legal Clinics and Clemency Support

    • ​Illinois Prison Project

      • Direct representation to people in the Illinois Department of Corrections by filing clemency petitions on their behalf.

      • They also offer bi-monthly drop-in legal clinics on Zoom every first Tuesday of the month from 4 PM-6 PM Central Time and every third Saturday of the month from 9 AM-11 AM CST. Fill out this ​Google Application Form (English & Spanish) to request support.

    • Uptown People's Law Center

      • Actively represents people in prison in both class action matters as well as individual cases. ​​

      • ​UPLC does not represent people in criminal, post-conviction, or clemency cases. UPLC's work relates solely to how people are treated in prison.

      • For additional information about their services go to their website or call 773-769-1411.

    • Illinois Innocence Project

      • ​Evaluates cases for credible claims of an Illinois incarcerated person's innocence, and, when appropriate, provides legal representation and/or other assistance toward proving innocence.

      • Learn more on their website​

    • University of Illinois Chicago Legal Clinics

      • ​The Pro Bono Litigation Clinic provides pro bono legal representation to qualified individuals.

      • To request legal representation, call (312) 427-2737 ext. 477

​​​​

Untitled design.jpg

REENTRY SUPPORT

I NEED REENTRY SUPPORT FOR MY LOVED ONE.

​

  • Workforce Development 

​

  • Expungement Resources

​

  • I.D., Housing, Social Security, and Birth Certificate Support

    • Reach out to the Chicago Torture Justice Center at info@chicagotorturejustice.org for assistance​

    • Uptown People's Law Center represents people recently released from prison who are disabled and are applying for Social Security disability benefits. They also represent people living in Chicago who have criminal records and who have been denied housing because of their record.

      • For additional information about their services go to their website or call 773-769-1411.

​

GettyImages-894670708-scaled-1.jpg

EDUCATION AND ACTION RESOURCES

I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW TO TAKE COLLECTIVE ACTION TO END MASS INCARCERATION.

​

  • Community Organizing

    • One of the most important tools we have is people power. We don’t just have to let things happen to us. We can fight back, and we can do it together. Join the Coalition to Decarcerate IL, or one of our member groups, to learn more about how to organize your community and win, so that we can reunite our families and set our loved ones free. 

      • Please sign up for our mailing list here and watch for upcoming campaigns, direct action, and organizing opportunities. 

​

  • Advocacy

    • Taking action on behalf of our loved ones to ensure that they experience better treatment and to make sure that our state representatives know what’s going on in their prisons is also important. 

End IL Prison Lockdown Action-70.jpg

VISITS

I WANT TO VISIT MY LOVED ONE IN THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

  • In-Person Visits

    • In-person visits are currently in Phase 2 and are required to be scheduled a minimum of 7 days in advance. If you are unable to access the online scheduler, call the facility during normal business hours (8:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday through Friday, excluding holidays) and ask to speak with the Video Visit Coordinator to schedule the visit.  

  • Video Visits

    • You must register and be approved for video visitation. This is a separate registration and approval from in-person visitation. Please note it can take up to 2 weeks to receive an email confirmation from GTL that confirms your registration has been approved. Once you receive the approval confirmation, you can then log in and schedule a video visit.

  • IDOC Family Liaison

    • If you have experienced any form of discrimination, harassment, or assault while trying to visit someone in prison you can contact Natalie Mason. Natalie manages communication between IDOC and the families of individuals in custody. To contact Natalie with questions or concerns, email Natalie.Mason@illinois.gov or call 217-558-2200 ext. 6226.

03texaschild-superJumbo_edited.jpg

LOVED ONES SUPPORT

I HAVE A LOVED ONE WHO IS CURRENTLY INCARCERATED AND WANT SUPPORT AND COMMUNITY.

  • Support & Community

    • Illinois is fortunate to have an online network of loved ones of the incarcerated via Facebook. If you are a loved one to someone who is currently incarcerated, you can request to join the Family Updates of Loved Ones in IL Prisons and Jails page here. 

    • The Coalition to Decarcerate IL Support Group was started during the pandemic by several of our coalition members. It is meant to be a smaller support group for loved ones. Please fill out this form if you would like to join their monthly virtual space and community. 

    • Restore Justice also has a loved ones support group called Communities & Relatives of Illinois Incarcerated Children (CRIIC). Most members have loved ones serving serving extreme sentences imposed on them as youth, but everyone is welcome. To learn more or join CRIIC, click here. 

MOTHERS DAY - HUG.jpg
bottom of page