Olivia Cal, a founding member of Communities and Relatives of Illinois’ Incarcerated Children, passed away on October 27 following a brief illness. Olivia advocated for children and families caught in the criminal legal system for nearly 30 years. She visited Springfield several times a year...
Formerly Incarcerated Men Share Why They’re Getting Vaccinated Fred Weatherspon received his second and final dose of the COVID-19 in January. “I want to protect myself,” Fred said. “I knew, if given the opportunity, I would take it.” Fred didn’t experience the side effects some people do....
Each year, during Stories of Second Chances, we gather with the Restore Justice community to share stories about second chances and inequities of the criminal legal system, and to remind ourselves that we are not in this fight alone. "We need to change the narrative...
Incarcerated people are dying because some facilities within the Illinois Department of Corrections seem to be denying testing or treatment for COVID-19. While we welcome Illinois’s recent announcement that people who are incarcerated in three facilities will be regularly tested, we’re disturbed it took so many...
Restore Justice applauds Governor JB Pritzker for his focus on fixing the criminal legal system in Illinois. We welcome the Governor’s proposed principles for building an equitable system and the administration’s acknowledgement of the racism inherent in policing, charging, sentencing, and in prison. These principles...
Most regions in Illinois are in Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan. Bars, restaurants, gyms, and salons are open throughout the state, but thousands of incarcerated people still have no indication of when they might see their families or meet with their lawyers, or...
August 13, 2020 - Chicago, Il. Restore Justice & Partner Advocates Oppose Transfers Between Jails, Prisons Restore Justice joins partner organizations in opposing efforts by county sheriffs to transfer incarcerated people into state prisons. We released a statement with Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice, Chicago Community Bond...
A JOINT STATEMENT FROM ILLINOIS ADVOCATES, LAWYERS, AND CONCERNED FAMILY MEMBERS OF INCARCERATED PEOPLE As concerned advocates, lawyers, and family members of incarcerated people in Illinois, we stand united in rejecting the transfers of people detained in county jails into the state prison system. We are...
We welcome Governor JB Pritzker's decision to halt transfers between county jails and state prisons. The Governor's most recent executive order establishes a plan to implement rigorous testing and quarantine protocols before incarcerated individuals are transferred. Congregate settings continue to be at highest risk of...
Governor JB Pritzker must address persistent racial inequities in the Illinois criminal legal system, including with COVID-19 early prison releases. ...
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