Advocacy

UU communities are inclusive, you can bring your whole self: your full identity, your questioning mind, your expansive heart.
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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, ensuring people being released from prison be issued state ID and allowing returning citizens access to more job opportunities.

​UUPMI is joined at times by UUANI – Unitarian Universalist Advocacy of Illinois a much broader advocacy group than UUPMI. UUANI brings together UUs across Illinois to work for justice, beloved community, and a healthy planet. The Unitarian Universalist Churches are based on 7 principles.

Click here to visit UUANI

Bills for action

Last session

CELEBRATION
HB 531 has PASSED  and is on to the Governor
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. NOTE: Currently Illinois only has Mandatory Supervised Release (MSR) which doesn't have an option to shorten sentences.
        Click here for more information

2018
These bills were before the IL legislative body for the 2018 season. Please follow the bills by the clickable titles and contact your legislators through http://www.ilga.gov/

APPROVED - Gov. Rauner SIGNED 8/20 
PASS :: SB3388 Expand Alternatives to Incarceration!
SB3388 expands eligibility for Adult Redeploy Illinois to all probation-eligible individuals, not just those charged with so-called “nonviolent” offenses. This bill will help decrease the reliance on incarceration and decrease overcrowding in IL prisons

STALLED - In House rules committee
OPPOSE :: SB1980 Will Increase Pretrial Incarceration
SB1980, pushed by Sheriff Dart, is an ineffective bail reform effort and will simply expand the power of sheriff’s and courts to keep people incarcerated.
Is stalled in the Rules Committee of the House.
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VETO - Gov Rauner added Amendments
PASS :: HB5104 End Medical Fees for Prisoners!
HB5104 eliminates the dangerous and costly barriers created by fees assessed to prisoners for medical care. Additionally, this bill restricts the profit prisons are allowed to make off of commissary items, like toothpaste and underwear, that prisoners are forced to purchase.

STALLED - In House rules committee
PASS :: HB5334 Background Fairness Act!
HB5334 requires that there must be a direct relationship between job duties and conviction history in order to deny an individual employment based on their previous convictions. This bill also provides people with the ability to sue companies who violate the law.
Is stalled in the Rules Committee of the House.  May be considered in the fall. 
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The Unitarian Universalist Prison Ministry of Illinois encourages congregations and UUs across the state to get involved in policy work to alleviate some of the harm the criminal legal system inflicts.

Other relevant legislation from our partners at UUANI:

• "Know your rights” Voting Act, HB4469.  Affirms access to voting rights for pre-trial and post-incarceration people.   PASSED BOTH HOUSES May 23 and is on the governor's desk.
• Fair Access to Employment (F.A.T.E.), HB5341.   Provides that outstanding fees, fines, and court costs cannot stand in the way of determining that someone can have their criminal record sealed.  SIGNED INTO LAW - August 2018

• “Dont ask” — criminal records on college apps, HB3142.  Disallows public institutions of higher learning from asking about criminal history on applications.  Passed House last year.  Has good support in the Senate and Judiciary Committee recommends DO PASS. 
• Juvenile justice:  Period of detention, HB4473.  Guarantees the right to a speedy hearing (within 24 hours) for juvenile detainees, and prescribes the use of detention as a last resort for juveniles.  In Rules Committee since January.
• Juvenile justice:  Age of detention, HB4543.  Increases the age at which detention/lock-up may be mandated, from 10 years to 13 years; foster custody care will replace detention for 10-13 years.  Provides further support services.  In House Rules since April 2018.  Has some good support.