Community Impact
Restore Justice is dedicated to making effecting positive change at the community level. Through our diverse initiatives, we strive to support the well-being of all people impacted by the criminal legal system, including those currently incarcerated, returning citizens and their loved ones.
BUILDING COMMUNITY
Together, we have the power to shape a future of compassion, equity, and safety for all members of our community.
In the community
CRIIC
Through Communities and Relatives of Illinois Incarcerated Citizens (CRIIC), we bring together dozens of moms, dads, siblings, aunts, and friends who have loved ones who are incarcerated for monthly meetings and other gatherings. In a world where families with incarcerated loved ones often feel ashamed, guilty, and judged, CRIIC provides members with a forum to share their stories and offer each other comfort.
RCN
We established the Returning Citizens Network (RCN) in February 2018 to provide the opportunity for returning citizens to come together to share personal experiences and feelings, coping strategies, and first-hand information about the challenges they face reentering society after such long periods of incarceration. RCN’s monthly meetings are led by Restore Justice staff and attended by recently returning citizens who were incarcerated for lengthy adult sentences as youth.
Newsletter to People Who Are Incarcerated
Through our newsletter, we write to more than 1,500 people who are incarcerated three or four times per year. We send updates on relevant court cases and legislation, and other information as requested by people on our mailing list.
Prison visits and court appearances
Our staff and Board members routinely visit people in prisons throughout Illinois. To date, we have made hundreds of visits to people who are incarcerated and supported dozens of people as they sought resentencing in court. Many of these people had been sentenced to life or de-facto-life terms when they were children. We have also testified at and attended other court hearings to support teenagers and emerging adults in adult courts.
Advocacy Trainings
In 2022 alone, we hosted 21 training sessions for people who want to build power in Springfield or learn how to advocate for a loved one who is incarcerated.
OUR VALUES
We Center People Who Are Directly Impacted by the criminal legal system.
We believe people who have served extreme sentences should be in leadership positions within the movement to roll back those punitive laws. We believe family members with incarcerated loved ones should be at the center of the work to reform our prison system. Our work with families guides our policy-making, and, through our apprenticeship, we are training people who served long prison terms to become nonprofit and social justice leaders.
make an impact, join us
Join our Advocacy Team
The Advocacy Team is a group of passionate people who meet regularly while the Illinois General Assembly is in session and take action on our policy priorities. Team members also have the opportunity to learn more about how to develop relationships with legislators, the legislative process, and the most effective ways to build support for issues that matter in Springfield.
Learn moreTake action with RJI
Restore Justice Illinois (RJI) is a 501 (c) 4 organization that utilizes its resources to engage in electoral work to support candidates with our shared values running for office in Illinois. Join our Political Action Team today to help elect candidates who will support and protect criminal legal system reform.
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