Learning together

Woman, 51, dies while being held at Cook County Jail: Chicago Sun Times
A 51-year-old woman died Saturday while being held at the Cook County Jail on a drug possession charge.Lavera Scott was pronounced dead at 5:28 a.m. at the jail, located in the 2600 block of South California Avenue, Cook County sheriff’s office spokeswoman Sophia Ansari said.​
​Read More

Program allows inmates to see their kids outside prison: CNN
Video: CNN's Poppy Harlow takes you inside the notorious Rikers Island prison in New York to meet the mothers locked up there -- and into an innovative new program through the Children's Museum of Manhattan that allows a select group of female inmates to spend a few precious hours outside of jail with their children.
Watch More

Incarcerated people have a lot to teach us about preventing crime and violence. I listened, and you can, too: NBC News
The transition from incarceration to reintegration into society is very much at the center of what our story is about in "O.G.": I play a man who's been incarcerated for 24 years, who is in the final weeks of his sentence. As a result, I had many conversations with folks on the inside, since we filmed in a working facility, and largely worked with men who are incarcerated in the roles of the other incarcerated men
Read More

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

UUPMI Calendar

ADVOCACY 2019 Kick-off
Wednesday March 20th
5:30 - 6:30 pm
ZOOM call
Register here

Stop Solitary Coalition: Video and discussion
Tuesday, March 26th
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Meadville Lombard Theological School
610 S Michigan Ave, Chicago - 6th floor

Events you should know about

UU Advocacy Network of IL:

• Saturday March 2, 7:00-8:30pm: 
  Healing Racial Justice Public Forum with Pastor Danny Givens
  ​Rockford UU
• March 26th: Day of Faith at the Capitol -  Community Renewal Society Lobby Day.    Bring justice to Springfield! Join us for prayer, action and face-to-face visits with your legislators. Transportation is provided by Community Renewal Society.

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.
Read More

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.