Question 1

I need legal and/or clemency support for my loved one.

Accepted Answer

Illinois Prison Project
(https://www.illinoisprisonproject.org)
 • Direct representation to people in the Illinois Department of Corrections by filing clemency petitions on their behalf.
 • IPP hosts a drop-in legal clinic via Zoom every first Tuesday of the month from 4 pm-5 pm Central Time and every third Saturday of the month from 9 am-10 am CST.
 • IPP provides legal advice and consultation to people who have loved ones incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections.
 • Clinic hours focus on commutation and administrative remedies, and they are a great opportunity to ask questions directly to one of our attorneys. To register for the clinic, fill out this form.(https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewrVs5a_KzhneBLAnwgnGd9Bz7bscpiQ2RNud6dXfD_p_hsg/viewform)

Uptown People's Law Center
(https://www.uplcchicago.org/)
 • Class Action Representation: UPLC actively participates in class action lawsuits to address systemic issues affecting the rights and well-being of people in prison.
 • Individual Cases: In rare circumstances, they take on individual cases, focusing on specific challenges faced by people in prison to provide tailored legal assistance. Please note that UPLC does not regularly take on individual cases, and representation is highly selective.
 • ​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, visit their website (https://www.uplcchicago.org/what-we-do/prison/prison-work.html)or call 773-769-1411.

Illinois Innocence Project
(https://www.uis.edu/illinoisinnocenceproject) 
 • ​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 (https://www.uis.edu/illinoisinnocenceproject/)or call ​217-206-6569

University of Illinois Chicago Legal Clinics
(https://law.uic.edu/experiential-education/clinics/)
 • ​The Pro Bono Litigation Clinic (https://law.uic.edu/experiential-education/clinics/pro-bono/)provides pro bono legal representation to qualified individuals.
 • To request legal representation, call (312) 427-2737 ext. 477
 • When a call is received, a clinical student conducts an intake interview to gather all of the information about why the prospective client is seeking legal services. The prospective client will also be asked to provide financial information and supporting documents to determine their eligibility for pro bono services.

Question 2

I need reentry support for my loved one.

Accepted Answer

Reentry Guides
Education Justice Project’s (https://educationjustice.net/)Reentry Resource Program publishes three reentry guides: 
 • Mapping Your Future: A Guide to Successful Reentry in Illinois(https://reentryillinois.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mapping-Your-Future-English-Edition-2024-Interactive.pdf)
 • Mapping Your Future: National Edition(https://reentryillinois.net/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Mapping-Your-Future-National-Edition-2024-Interactive.pdf)
 • A New Path: A Guide to the Challenges and Opportunities After Deportation.(https://reentryillinois.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/A-New-Path-2023-English-Edition-Final.pdf)

​Workforce Development 
Precious Blood Ministry and Reconciliation (https://www.pbmr.org/)supports system-impacted individuals through the reentry process, offering reentry case management and more. 
 • To get in contact with Precious Blood Ministry about their Workforce Development Program (https://www.pbmr.org/events#WorkforceDevelopment)call (773) 952-6643.

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Expungement Resources
The Office of the St(https://osad.illinois.gov/)ate Appellate Defender  (https://osad.illinois.gov/)has several resources and services, including expungement and sealing support. 
 • People with qualifying arrests and convictions may petition the court of their sentencing county to expunge or seal their records. The State Appellate Defender can answer your questions regarding eligibility for expungement and sealing.
 • For questions/ consultations regarding RAP sheet assistance and/ or Expungement aid, call 866-787-1776 or email Expungement@osad.state.il.us.(mailto:Expungement@osad.state.il.us)

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I.D., Housing, Social Security, and Birth Certificate Support
Chicago Torture Justice Center p(https://www.chicagotorturejustice.org/)roviding support that is individualized, holistic, politicized, transformational, collaborative, and liberatory.
 • Reach out to the Chicago Torture Justice Center at info@chicagotorturejustice.org (mailto:info@chicagotorturejustice.org)for assistance
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Uptown People's Law Center (https://www.uplcchicago.org/)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 (https://www.uplcchicago.org/what-we-do/prison/prison-work.html)or call 773-769-1411.

Question 3

I want to learn more about how to take collective action to end mass incarceration.

Accepted Answer

Educational Resources
We believe that it’s possible to end the practice of locking people up and build an Illinois where everyone has what they need and prison is unimaginable. Many call this abolition. Want to learn more about this vision, and how to get there? Check out these great resources . . .
 • To access Abolitionist Toolkits by Critical Resistance, click here. (https://criticalresistance.org/resources/the-abolitionist-toolkit/)
 • Here is an Abolitionist Book Starter Kit (https://www.haymarketbooks.org/blogs/301-abolitionist-starter-kit)from Haymarket Books. 
 • Listen to the For the Wild Podcast w/ Mariame Kaba -- Moving Past Punishment.(https://forthewild.world/listen/mariame-kaba-on-moving-past-punishment-151)

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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 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 a(https://www.coalitiontodecarcerateil.com/get-involved)nd watch for upcoming campaigns, direct action, and organizing opportunities.

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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.

• We recommend attending an Advocacy Training with Restore Justice (https://www.restorejustice.org/our-work/advocacy/)to learn more about how to advocate for important legal reforms.

Question 4

I have a loved one who is currently incarcerated and want support and community.

Accepted Answer

• 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.(https://www.facebook.com/groups/2825332037544605)

• The Coalition to Decarcerate IL Support Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/752304542047165)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 (https://docs.google.com/forms/u/1/d/e/1FAIpQLSf1zW3Etlk8OrCd6vSSChcSOCJv6CTt4vdWZm1wA1a8Cx1RwQ/viewform?usp=send_form)if you would like to join the monthly virtual space and community.

• Restore Justice also has a loved ones support group called Communities & Relatives of Illinois Incarcerated Children (CRIIC).(https://www.restorejustice.org/our-work/communities-relatives-of-illinois-incarcerated-citizens/) Most members have loved ones serving serving extreme sentences imposed on them as youth, but everyone is welcome.

Community Resources

Coalition to Decarcerate IL

Community
Resources