Washington, DC (Aug. 15, 2024)– The Illinois Prison Project (IPP) was presented with the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ (NACDL) Champion of State Criminal Justice Reform Award at NACDL's 23rd Annual State Criminal Justice Network (SCJN) Conference. The award recognizes an individual or group whose tremendous efforts have led to progressive reform of a state criminal legal system.
IPP fights mass incarceration in Illinois through legislative advocacy, direct legal services, and public education. By providing legal assistance to individuals serving excessively long sentences, they have freed 145 incarcerated people, eliminated over 1700 years of prison time, and saved over 138 million taxpayer dollars. They support individuals after incarceration through reentry planning and assistance with housing, employment, and benefits. Through their advocacy, IPP has helped achieve a number of significant reforms, including the passage of the Joe Coleman Act, which makes incarcerated individuals with terminal illnesses or disabilities eligible for release, and the restoration of good conduct credit, which can substantially reduce prison sentences. IPP fights to end excessive mandatory supervised release, reclassify felony murder from first to second-degree, and repeal Illinois’ "three strikes" law.
"Right now, there are no states where all, most, or even a sizable portion of incarcerated people have access to legal support. That's where the Illinois Prison Project comes in," said IPP Executive Director Jennifer Soble, "But our direct legal support to incarcerated people is only one piece of the puzzle. Our policy team works to end the practices that fuel mass incarceration. Our education team works in communities to both raise awareness around mass incarceration, but also to provide legal resources to incarcerated people and their loved ones. Our policy and education teams are both led and staffed by formerly incarcerated leaders with firsthand experience navigating life or virtual life sentences. Together, we are building a network of support and legal information within and outside of prison walls so that incarcerated people can effectively fight for their own freedom. No one should be forced to navigate the carceral system alone. And IPP is working to ensure that no one has to."
"IPP has been steadfast in its mission to provide legal support to incarcerated individuals and push for legislative reforms," said Mike Iacopino, Chair of NACDL’s State Legislative Affairs Committee. "Over one third of Illinois' prison population is serving a sentence of more than 20 years, and there are a shocking number of both virtual life sentences and natural life sentences. The Illinois Prison Project, through its unwavering commitment and dedication, has helped to shift the tide towards a more equitable and just system in Illinois."
Jessie Diamond, Deputy Director, Public Affairs and Communications, (202) 465-7647 or jdiamond@nacdl.org
The National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers is the preeminent organization advancing the mission of the criminal defense bar to ensure justice and due process for persons accused of crime or wrongdoing. A professional bar association founded in 1958, NACDL's many thousands of direct members in 28 countries – and 90 state, provincial and local affiliate organizations totaling up to 40,000 attorneys – include private criminal defense lawyers, public defenders, military defense counsel, law professors and judges committed to preserving fairness and promoting a rational and humane criminal legal system.
