Illinois Prison Project

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Illinois Prison Project

The Illinois Prison Project works for a more sensible and humane prison system in Illinois.

10/12/2026

⚠️ LOW TICKET ALERT! Now is your last chance to get tickets to (in our opinion😉) the party of the year! Each IPP Gala ticket includes dinner, drinks & dessert with leaders in the movement to end mass incarceration, all at the iconic Chicago Cultural Center.
⏰ Reserve your tickets now at https://illinoisprisonproject.networkforgood.com/events/97420-illinois-prison-project-s-6th-annual-gala

10/09/2026

Our state constitution recognizes that our system must offer people the opportunity at redemption and restoration. And yet, hundreds of people in Illinois are sentenced to life in prison. At IPP's October virtual Lunch & Learn, hear from three men who were once sentenced to natural life imprisonment but are now contributing members of their community, as they examine the capacity for redemption, rehabilitation, and restoration.

🗓️ Thursday, October 22
⏰ 12:00 pm CT
🔗 Virtual - Register at https://illinoisprisonproject.networkforgood.com/events/105920-october-virtual-lunch-learn-the-dangerous-one-sided-narrative-no-one-is-their-worst-act

10/07/2026

🏆We are thrilled to announce the next winner of IPP's Visionary of the Year Award: Willette Benford. After serving 24 years in prison as a criminalized survivor of domestic violence, Willette devoted her career to ending mass incarceration and directly supporting survivors and other system-impacted people. As a Senior Advisor to Illinois First Lady MK Pritzker, Willette has spearheaded initiatives addressing housing, employment, identification access, childcare, and mental-health support for women leaving prison.
Join us to celebrate Willette at the IPP Gala on October 16. Tickets are still available at
https://illinoisprisonproject.networkforgood.com/events/97420-illinois-prison-project-s-6th-annual-gala

10/05/2026

Formerly incarcerated IPP Ambassador Nia Frazier and IPP Assistant Education Director Kaitlyn Foust discussed the impact of incarceration on mothers and children on PBS's "At Issue" News program. Nia bravely shared her experience of being arrested when she was pregnant, giving birth while in Cook County Jail, and then being separated from her daughter for nearly a decade while incarcerated.

You can watch and share this important program at https://www.pbs.org/video/when-mothers-are-incarcerated-the-impact-on-children-and-families-nwcjsc/

10/04/2026

Did you know that IPP's legal team offers a free online legal clinic on the first Tuesday and third Saturday of each month? If you're supporting an incarcerated loved one, please join us to learn more about pathways to release such as clemency, parole, medical release, and more.

🗓️ Next clinic is TUESDAY, OCTOBER 6 at 4PM
🌐 Please Register in advance at https://ow.ly/kURt50ZUhjY

10/02/2026

📺 Last night on NBC-5 News, IPP's Education Director Renaldo Hudson shared his horrifying experience of surviving 12 years on Illinois' Death Row.

Renaldo is now a leader in the fight against the death penalty and mass incarceration.
💪🏾 As the leader of IPP's Education Team, he works to center the voices and experiences of system-impacted people, especially in debates about criminal legal reforms.

Watch the full story at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hPWPxOO93Y

09/30/2026

Are you a licensed attorney who is passionate about reuniting families torn apart by mass incarceration? IPP his hiring a staff attorney who will work directly with incarcerated people and their loved ones to find pathways out of prison, such as commutation, medical release, and other post-conviction matters. The ideal candidate is dedicated to criminal legal reform and the clients we work with, a creative thinker, and an excellent writer. Details and application instructions at http://www.illinoisprisonproject.org/careers/staff-attorney-2

09/29/2026

17 days until the party of the year (in our opinion😉)!

🎟️ Tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities are still available for the 6th Annual IPP Gala, which brings together leaders in the fight against mass incarceration at the iconic Chicago Cultural Center. This event WILL sell out, so don't wait!

Full details at
https://illinoisprisonproject.networkforgood.com/events/97420-illinois-prison-project-s-6th-annual-gala

09/26/2026

This week, formerly incarcerated IPP Community Navigators Ronnie Carrasquillo and Vincent Boggan spoke to a DePaul University institutional corrections course about the realities of incarceration and the need to change the policies that fuel mass incarceration and perpetual punishment.
🫵🏽 YOU can invite IPP to speak at your college, school, church or community group -- head to illinoisprisonproject.org/contact

09/25/2026

🚨New resources just dropped!
Head to IPP's Resources page to download our updated Youthful Parole Petition toolkit. Youthful Parole is a law passed in 2019 that allows most people who were convicted under the age of 21 to apply for parole after serving either 10 or 20 years (depending on the offense), but only if they were sentenced after 2019. Learn more about the Youthful Parole petition process for your incarcerated loved one at https://ow.ly/b0g350ZRyoQ

Address

53 W. Jackson, Suite 452
Chicago, IL
60604

Telephone

+13123244463

Website

http://www.illinoisprisonproject.org/

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