Did you know there is no parole in IL? Support a Second Look for IDOC Seniors, House Bill 2045! Through reports from our CLF Worthy Now prisoner pen pals in Illinois, UUPMI leaders and volunteers know that prison conditions continue to be horrific. This bill can save lives of seniors in IL prisons. The bill would provide a parole process for approximately 1,000 people in Illinois prisons who
are 55 years or older and have been caged at least 25 years. To view the wording of the bill go here. Historic End of Cash Bail in Illinois!
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B3098/HB4490
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Support Families’ Right to Estate Equity (FREE) Act
SB3098/HB4490
The FREE Act removes language prohibiting people who have served their time and returned
back to society from being able to serve as an executor or administrator of an estate.
Specifically it removes language providing that a person who has been convicted of a felony is not qualified to act as an executor or an administrator.
SB3098/HB4490
The FREE Act removes language prohibiting people who have served their time and returned
back to society from being able to serve as an executor or administrator of an estate.
Specifically it removes language providing that a person who has been convicted of a felony is not qualified to act as an executor or an administrator.
A State-by-State Look at Coronavirus in Prisons
by The Marshall Project
::updated daily::
The Marshall Project is collecting data on COVID-19 infections in state and federal prisons. See how the virus has affected correctional facilities where you live.
Read more...
by The Marshall Project
::updated daily::
The Marshall Project is collecting data on COVID-19 infections in state and federal prisons. See how the virus has affected correctional facilities where you live.
Read more...
Learning together
If you are curious about prison abolition, check out this wonderful resource from Abolition Journal. With six sessions, you can go at your own pace.
Self-led Learning page lists historic offerings and more to help deepen your knowledge.
| 8-12-20_abolitionist_theologies_virtual_roundtable_transcript.pdf |
Upcoming and Ongoing Events...
October 1st @ 10:15-11:15 AM CT Teach-In
Pursuing Pretrial Freedom in Illinois (in the Sanctuary of DuPage UU Church in Naperville IL) Each year Illinois incarcerates nearly a quarter million people in 92 county jails, not because they have been convicted of a crime, but because they can’t afford to pay a money bond. An attorney from the ACLU and Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice will explain how and why the Safe-T Act was passed, and what pretrial hearings will look like under the new system which ended money bond and is designed to reduce pretrail jailing. Facilitated by Ben Ruddell, Director of Criminal Justice Policy with the ACLU of Illinois Ben Ruddell is responsible for drafting and analyzing criminal justice legislation in the Illinois General Assembly. He joined the ACLU in 2015 after more than seven years in the office of the Illinois House Minority Leader, during which time he was Deputy Legal Counsel and staffed the Judiciary and Criminal Law Committees. Prior to his work in the legislature, Ben practiced law in Chicago. 
Feeling helpless in the face of the racial and economic injustice in our society? Join the UU Prison Ministry of IL to explore injustices of the prison system and learn what we can do to change it. This workshop is intended to challenge participants towards growth & inspire ongoing work and action. Saturday October 14, 2023 10 am - 2 pm UU Church, Rockford & online. We will:
Let This Radicalize You Praxis For anyone involved in caring, justice work, and organizing toward a more peaceful world in the context of these challenging times.
October-May monthly sessions focusing on two chapters of the book. Sessions will include invitations to monthly calls to action, wisdom sharing, and community building. This book feeds hope for the journey and tells stories of work already being done that builds the world of which we dream. Learn more about the book here. Zooming monthly on Saturdays 11am- 12pm starting in October through May. A praxis-oriented book study grounded in the practice of hope and joy centering the book by Kelly Hayes and Mariame Kaba. Register & get more details here. End Death by Incarceration in IL!
Patrice Lumumba Daniels, Advisory Committee member of UUPMI
According to UUPMI Advisory Committee member, Patrice Lumumba Daniels, "Death By Incarceration (DBI) is "a prison sentence formally handed down by a judge of so called Life Without Parole.
We are working collaboratively with the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF) Ambassador of Illinois program in gathering information and listening to our friends and CLF members inside Illinois prisons about their top priority issues so that we can leverage our power to address these harms collaboratively with other organizations. The main concern of our inside pen pals is around substandard health care. If your organization or your congregation wants to be more involved, please fill out our contact form! We are working closely with our partners at the Unitarian Universalist Advocacy Network of IL as thought partners in this work!
Past events...To access a recording of the Legislative Advocacy Training with Restore Justice Illinois Director Jobi Cates, please visit here. |
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Our Mission
We equip UU's in Illinois to transform institutions; partnering with and supporting people harmed by the prison industrial complex. Read More
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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 half-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 Unitarian Universalists to local and state-level policy initiatives that seek to build a world community of peace, liberty and justice for all. |
UU Prison Ministry of Illinois is a 501(c)3 organization, so your contributions are tax-deductible.
We are funded by a large network of Unitarian Universalists, as well as from grants from the Fund for Unitarian Universalist Social Responsibility and Crossroads Fund - and grateful for all their support. |
This organization is in part funded by the Fund for Unitarian Universalist Social Responsibility and the Crossroads Fund.
