Advocacy
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Unitarian Universalist communities are inclusive, you can bring your whole self: your full identity, your questioning mind, your expansive heart. Together, we create a force more powerful than one person or one belief system. As Unitarian Universalists, we do not have to check our personal background and beliefs at the door: we join together on a journey that honors everywhere we’ve been before.
We are organizing Illinois Unitarian Universalist congregations to advocate for policy changes in Illinois related to prisons. This includes; setting strict limits on the use of solitary confinement, reforming bail/bond system, and allowing recently released to access to more job and housing opportunities.
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The COVID-19 Pandemic has highlighted the many needs of those who are recently released or still inside. Though there are immediate needs that must be addressed, our organization still holds onto to a long-term religious vision where the humanity of all is recognized and liberation/reconciliation is possible for all people.
What You Can Do NowGet Involved!
Every year, Illinois incarcerates over 250,000 people who are awaiting trial. None of these people have been convicted of a crime, and most are jailed simply because they can’t afford to pay a money bond. Pretrial incarceration is hurting communities across our state. As of January 2021 partners across the sate have ended money bond in IL. But the work is not over.
PLEASE call Governor Pritzker (217-782-0244) and Lt. Governor Stratton (217-558-3085) and ask them to release people from IDOC.
The Illinois Department of Corrections is not conducting enough Covid-19 tests to provide an accurate count of people who are ill. Even with this underestimate, an alarming number of our friends inside are infected. Everyone is living in intolerable conditions where they cannot take the advised precautions to protect themselves from the virus. As of August 15, 261 people in Stateville, 93 at East Moline and 72 women at Logan are reported to have Covid-19, and we know that far more people in these prisons were exposed and are being held in quarantine. Of the 602 reported cases of people in custody with Covid-19 since March, just 365 are listed as recovered. PLEASE call Governor Pritzker (217-782-0244) and Lt. Governor Stratton (217-558-3085) and ask them to release people from IDOC. By focusing on older people (who almost never are re-arrested), people with medical conditions that increase their risk of death, and people within six months of release, Illinois can release enough people from prison to make social distancing possible inside, to reduce the spread and prevent more deaths. IDOC must increase testing and provide prompt medical care when people inside report that they are ill. Please be sure to like our Facebook page for updates on advocacy involvement as it comes. For additional action you can take, visit the Illinois Prison Project, who is keeping a running list of ways we can stay engaged in our vision of liberation in these difficult times. Bills for action2020 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our legislative advocacy work is on hold. The pandemic reveals how legislation that focuses on the full humanity of those who are locked up is a win for all communities, especially with regard to public health.
Update August 2020: The legislative session has been severely curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. A six-day legislative session is currently scheduled, and our community network partners who keep their eyes on Springfield tell us the focus will be on CODIV-19 and police reform bills. That said, we will keep you updated on potential work coming through our friends at Parole Illinois who are restarting their efforts to advocate for the older adult parole bill, HB 5256 and SB2114. More info here. See below for important information on a Teach-In August 20th about ending money bond in Illinois leading up to a Virtual Lobby Day with our friends at the Chicago Community Bond Fund and the Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice. 2019 These bills are before the 2019 IL Legislative body.
Use the status links to find out if your representative is involved in decision making and reach out to them letting them know your support. Click on the titles below to learn more about these bills on the IL General Assembly website. Then check out how your legislator voted - consider contacting them in thanks or concern. HB 2045 :: Healthcare - Support Status: Passed Criminal Law Committee, House & Senate Looking forward to likely sign into law by Gov Pritzker. Bill eliminate the $5 co-pay for healthcare. Click here to see the votes Carol Ammons was lead sponsor in House. Elgie Sims is chief Senate sponsor HB 2444 :: Parental Detention - Support Final language Status: Passed Criminal Law Committee , House & Senate Looking forward to likely being signed into law by Gov Pritzker. Parental Detention: The Children’s Best Interest Act provides specific circumstances that the court shall consider in favor of release, to prevent unnecessary harm to children caused by separation from parents.Provides consideration for defendants who care for a family member who is ill, disabled, or elderly. Click here to see the votes Rep. Kelly Cassidy - lead sponsor in the House Rep. Delia Ramirez - lead co-sponsor Sen. Jacqueline Y. Collins (majority whip) -lead sponsor in the Senate Sen. Robert Peters lead co-sponsor in the Senate Other Prison-related billed that passed both houses: HB 531 – now Public Act 100-1182 – creates new parole opportunities for those under 21 coming into the system today with extreme sentences ahead of them—the first new opportunity for parole in this state since the practice was abolished in 1978. HB 900 Never Require People to Reimburse any Cost of Incarceration. HB 3061 Health Care Workers Background Check. Removes barriers that may have prevented people from applying for healthcare jobs because of a previous conviction. Following bills are dead for this session Please consider writing your legislator in support or disagreement with their vote HB 182 :: Solitary - Support Status: Rules Committee Click here to see the vote Provides that: a committed person may not be placed in isolated confinement for more than 10 consecutive days; may not be placed in isolated confinement for more than 10 days in any 180-day period; while out of cell, committed persons may have access to activities; that the DoC shall post quarterly reports. HB 1587 :: Gets rid of some mandatory minimum sentences - Support Status: Passed Criminal Law Committee & passed the House 61-48 DID NOT Make it to the floor for a vote in the Senate Judges would be able to depart from state mandatory minimums for just three types of offenses. Click here to see the votes Sen Elgie R Sims, Jr sponsor in the Senate This was not on our radar before (it is a small step compared to what is really needed), but it has now passed the house with bi-partisan support: State Rep. Allen Skillicorn, from East Dundee, was among a group of SEVEN Republicans who joined Democrats in supporting the legislation. Judges would be able to depart from state mandatory minimums for just three types of offenses:
HB 2039 :: Penalty Reduction - Support Status: Rules Committee Click here to see the vote Provides that a person serving a sentence for any criminal offense under the Criminal Code of 1961 or the Criminal Code of 2012 or a similar local ordinance for which the statutory penalty has been subsequently reduced or altered may petition the trial court that entered the judgment of conviction to request resentencing or dismissal in accordance with the statutory penalty in effect at the time of the filing of the petition. Notes from our advocates: State's attorneys have long been in opposition - claiming unconstitutionality - Cassidy wanted to call it but was postponed - the Gov's office asked to hold onto it, as they are interested in a mass communication of sentences (for pot), concern is that it won't address barriers that folks have that aren't in prison. HB3214 :: Parole - Support Status: Rules Committee Click here to see the vote A person serving a term of imprisonment in a DOC facility is eligible for parole and a parole hearing if they have served (1) At least 20 years 2-25% o the sentence (2) A minimum sentence for offense. Person serving natural life shall be eligible after 20 years. Check out this website for more information from a consortium of advocates. HB 3332 :: Housing Income Tax Credit - Support Status: Rules Committee Click here to see the vote Provides a tax credit to landlords that rent to people with conviction records, providing a 15% tax credit for amount of annual rent received from that "qualified renter" |
Support for work in the worldHere are the many ways we are joining with area organizations to amplify the needs and voices of those who are locked up.
Now, more than ever, there have been many asks of officials to release those locked up over public health concerns with the COVID-19 pandemic. We as an organization have signed onto several letters and participated in these advocacy efforts:
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Grateful for the signing the Children's Best Interest Act, and to Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton for her support. IF this is fully implemented, with resources for family-based treatment and training for all stakeholders, it could be one a huge factor in reducing incarceration in Illinois.
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