Learning together

Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2019  : ​Prison Policy Initiative
This report offers some much needed clarity by piecing together this country’s disparate systems of confinement. The American criminal justice system holds almost 2.3 million people in 1,719 state prisons, 109 federal prisons, 1,772 juvenile correctional facilities, 3,163 local jails, and 80 Indian Country jails as well as in military prisons, immigration detention facilities, civil commitment centers, state psychiatric hospitals, and prisons in the U.S. territories. This report provides a detailed look at where and why people are locked up in the U.S., and dispels some modern myths to focus attention on the real drivers of mass incarceration.
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The Real Difference Between Jail and Prison: Reader's Digest 
We tend to use the terms "jail" and "prison" interchangeably. And while both are legally sanctioned confinement facilities, they're not the same thing.

Both “jail” and “prison” refer to secure facilities that are legally permitted to deprive people within the criminal justice system of certain constitutional rights (such as the right to go where they want when they want). But under the law, they’re not the same thing. So what is the difference between jail vs. prison?
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COOK COUNTY CHIEF JUDGE RELEASES NEW REPORT ON BOND REFORM SHOWING OVERWHELMING SUCCESS: Coalition to End Money Bond
Late last week, Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans released a new report about bond reform and its impact in Cook County. Notably, the court also released case-level data for the first time, which will allow independent analysis by people outside the court system. The central conclusion from the new report is simple: fewer people are being incarcerated in Cook County Jail and increased pretrial releases “did not increase the threat to public safety in Cook County."
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County Board limits landlords’ inquiries into tenants’ criminal histories: Chicago Sun-Times
Dubbed the “Just Housing” ordinance, the measure is actually an amendment to the county’s housing ordinance. It is designed to end housing discrimination against people trying to turn their lives around. The amendment adds language that prohibits potential landlords or property owners from asking about, considering or requiring the disclosure of “covered criminal history,” meaning arrest records, charges, juvenile records and conviction histories will be off limits to landlords.
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Self-led Learning page lists historic offerings and more to help deepen your knowledge.

UUPMI Calendar

Parole IL : Stateville Calling
Viewing, Discussion & Organizing
Saturday, June 1 @ 
​12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Third Unitarian Church  ::  301 N Mayfield Ave, Chicago, IL
​Registration

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Events you should know about

Coalition to End Money Bond
The currently scheduled hearings are:

• ​Chicago: Monday, June 17, 2019, 12-1:30pm at the Michael A. Bilandic Building, 5th Floor, Room C-500, 160 N. LaSalle Street, Chicago, IL 60601.

If you are interested in a deeper dive into the Coalition to End Money Bond's statewide campaign and the Supreme Court Commission on Pretrial Practices, you can join us 

• Tuesday May 7th for a teach-in at
  Grace Place (637 S Dearborn) from 6-8pm! 
  ​More details are on the facebook event page.

UU Advocacy Network of IL:

• Thursday, May 9: Environmental Advocacy Day in Springfield.

Chicago Area UU Council
Working Together to Be Welcoming to All

• Saturday, MAY 18, 2019, 9:00 am registration, 9:30 am conference
  Countryside Church UU, 1025 N Smith Street, Palatine, IL
  $10 donation requested to cover the cost of the event. 

Registration and further information

FAN Event - Evanston Township High School
Charged: the new movement to transform american prosecution and end mass incarceration by Emily Bazelon

• Monday May 20, 2019 - 7:00 pm
  
• 1600 Dodge Ave.

Learn More

IL Department of Corrections​

• June 19th : Summit of Hope : Maywood -
  Proviso East High School, 807 S. 1st Ave., Maywood, IL 60153​

Check this link for further information and to register to help those returning

Click here for more information about events

Our Mission

We equip UU's in Illinois to ​transform institutions and support people harmed by the prison industrial complex.  Read More

Congratulations Monica Cosby long time supporter of UUPMI working to ensure other women are never faced with prison.
ARTICLE:  In Prison, Discipline Comes Down Hardest On Women : NPR 
​When Monica Cosby, Tyteanna Williams and Celia Colon talk about the years they spent as inmates at women's prisons in Illinois, their stories often turn to the times they would be disciplined for what seemed like small, even absurd things. Especially, it turns out, if you're a woman.
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ARTICLE: 'Prison is not where women need to be'
Chicago Tribune  ::  July 18, 2018   
​The number of women locked up in Illinois prisons could be cut in half under an ambitious proposal by reform advocates who argue that the corrections system has largely ignored the needs of female inmates.
Watch Video - Read More

We need your help! We can sustain this ministry only if we have the support of people who care about our shared humanity with people in prison. Your contribution will help fund our quarter-time minister’s salary, benefits, and travel costs, plus the costs of our education offerings to congregations.

The In Prison Ministry works to create a spiritual space where all people can come as they are and be affirmed in their inherent worth and dignity, no matter their identities or past harm they may have caused. 

The outside work of the UU Prison Ministry focuses on preparing our congregations to become radically welcoming places for formerly incarcerated and convicted people. We embrace the call of Unitarian Universalism to make our congregations accepting of all people.

​The Prison Ministry will also connect UUs to local and state-level policy  initiatives that seek to build a world community of peace, liberty and justice for all.

Donate Now

UU Prison Ministry of Illinois is a 501(c)3 organization, so your contributions are tax-deductible.

​We are funded in part by the Fund for Unitarian Universalist Social Responsibility - and grateful for their support.