Learning together

Is Prison the Answer to Violence? -  The Marshall Project
I think there are a handful of reasons we have to think differently about how we approach the question of violence. The first relates to what you just said, which is that we will not end mass incarceration without taking on the question of violence. We have a choice. We either give up the aspiration of ending mass incarceration or we steer into the question of what to do about people who commit harm.
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Investigation into inmate’s suicide faults Maryland women’s prison’s treatment of people with disabilities : Washington Post
An investigation into Maryland’s only prison for women following the 2017 suicide of an inmate found the facility violated the constitutional rights of people with disabilities who are placed in segregation and did not take sufficient steps to “prevent future harm.”
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How to Support Cyntoia Brown : Colorlines
Sentenced to life in prison at 16 for killing her would-be rapist, Brown is not eligible for parole until she is 67.  In the unanimous decision, the state court ruled that juvenile offenders facing life, like Brown, must serve five decades before being considered for parole.  
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California will offer parole for 4,000 'three-strike' prisoners facing life sentences : Pacific Standard 
In a reversal of a controversial rule that disproportionately sentenced mentally ill and African-American inmates to life in prison for petty crimes, California will allow all non-violent prisoners under the Three Strikes Act to seek parole.
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Several articles on the confusing and important First  Step Act - read from the NYTimes, Marshall Project, Truth Out and Vox

Self-led Learning page lists historic offerings and more to help deepen your knowledge.

Giving in this season of joy

Solitary Watch
Knowing is half the battle. With a central source of information, the fight against solitary confinement can be stronger. Besides being an information storinghouse, Solitary Watch provides outreach opportunities such as "Photo Requests from Solitary" and "Lifelines to Solitary," a penpal program.
Click here to give

​From their website:
"Solitary Watch is a nonprofit national watchdog group that investigates, documents, and disseminates information on the widespread use of solitary confinement in U.S. prisons and jails. Our mission is to provide the public—as well as practicing attorneys, legal scholars, law enforcement and corrections officers, policymakers, educators, advocates, people in prison and their families—with the first centralized source of unfolding news, original reporting, firsthand accounts, and background research on solitary confinement in the United States. Our hope is that such information will catalyze discussion, debate, and change on a vital domestic human rights issue."

UUPMI Calendar

PRISON INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX
​Saturday, February 16th 
12:00 — 4:00 pm
Lake Country Unitarian Universalist 
​W299N5595 Grace Drive
Hartland, WI 53029
Register here

Events you should know about

Click here for more information about events

CELEBRATION
Support HB 531 has PASSED  and is on to the Governor
There are many questions about this bill - please check out Restore Justice for further information.
HB531 allows for the review of sentences meted out to felons convicted while under the age of 21.  Time served will be 10-20 years before review for parole, depending on the seriousness of the crime.  This replaces a practice of incarcerating youth offenders for life without review.  This bill passed the Senate in May of 2017 and, with your encouragement, the House moved the bill forward and passed it last week.  It goes to the governor.
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Currently Illinois only has Mandatory Supervised Release (MSR) which doesn't have an option to shorten sentences.

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.
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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.