MacArthur Justice Center

In a few weeks, experts and advocates will gather in Chicago to learn how we can push for improved parole systems and decarceration in our communities. These workshops are part of #RealizingRelease—a two-day convening on parole advocacy and decarceration hosted by the National Parole Transformation Project. Learn more and sign up at bit.ly/RealizingRelease Workshop leaders include: Matthew Bonanno, MacArthur Justice Center Emmett Sanders, Prison Policy Initiative Sarah Staudt, Prison Policy Initiative Ryan Sakoda, University of Iowa College of Law Kaelin Rapport, American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Ben Austen Charles Preston, Injustice Watch Imani Mfalme, National Participatory Defense Network Pauline Rogers, Rech Foundation

Join advocates and experts in Chicago as they discuss state-based campaigns on parole advocacy, mass supervision in the prison-industrial complex, and strategies for decarceration and social change. Register for #RealizingRelease—a two-day convening on parole advocacy and decarceration hosted by the National Parole Transformation Project. Sign up at bit.ly/realizingrelease Plenary Speakers: Alexa Van Brunt, MacArthur Justice Center John Cooper, Safe & Just Michigan Anthony Dixon, Parole Preparation Project NY Johnnie Veal, Project Sound Off La Tanya Jenifor-Sublett, Chicago Torture Justice Center Chesa Boudin, University of California, Berkeley - School of Law Ken Nixon, Safe & Just Michigan Jimmy Soto, University of Chicago Aislinn Sol, Chicago Torture Justice Center Renaldo Hudson, Illinois Prison Project Samah Sisay, Center for Constitutional Rights Robert Lilly, Grassroots Leadership EDIT: Keith Wattley will no longer be speaking on the plenary "Advancing Parole Advocacy: Lessons and Strategies on State-based Campaigns"

Are you protesting in Chicago this week? Know your rights! Save this information ⬇️ If you are arrested by the Chicago Police, you are entitled to 3 phone calls to anyone within 3 hours of being arrested AND access to an attorney under the Consent Decree. Need an attorney? Call the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender at (844) 817-4448. But what happens if the police do not allow you your phone calls? Report the violation at bit.ly/access-attorney. Your responses will be confidential and your name will not be shared. Community organizations and advocates fought for this Consent Decree. Help us by sharing this information!

We're just one month away from our national convening, Realizing Release: Parole Advocacy & the Fight for Decarceration. Join experts, activists, and community members to discuss the importance of parole reform and its impact on our society. Don't miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and be part of the movement towards a more just and equitable criminal justice system. Learn more and register at: https://lnkd.in/e8_Ee5-h

Over the summer, the MacArthur Justice Center hosted 13 brilliant interns to support our litigation and advocacy work. In Illinois, interns engaged in trial preparation in one of our wrongful conviction cases. They conducted interviews with folks whom Chicago Police had recently arrested as part of monitoring the consent decree in the #LetUsBreathe case. They also issued surveys and conducted interviews with people in solitary confinement to start building a civil rights lawsuit challenging restrictive housing conditions. In Louisiana, interns conducted discovery and motions practice in civil cases and prepared and filed state post-conviction petitions in two criminal cases. They scoured documents produced by various law enforcement agencies and witnesses' deposition testimony, researched legal issues, and drafted pleadings and briefs to fight for our clients. As part of the Supreme Court and Appellate Program in Washington D.C., interns helped the MJC team strategize, conduct extensive legal research, and draft brief sections in a range of our cases on issues ranging from excessive force to habeas to prison conditions. We're grateful for the assistance of our summer interns—we depend on them to fight for our clients' rights and further MJC's mission. Thank you Meera Santhanam, Vikekae Kim, Yurou Li, Amelia Steinbach, Carter Farnsworth, Rita W. Wang, Andrew E., Grace Vedock, Marian Gardner, Nick Wagner, and Nicole Happ!

ORGANIZATION NEWS: Amir Ali, MacArthur Justice Center's President and Executive Director, has stepped down from his role at MJC. Over his seven-year tenure at MJC, Amir led by example in and outside the organization, known for building coalitions and setting multiple landmark precedents that transcend ideology and cultivating a strong internal culture that will benefit MJC for years to come.  We are grateful to Amir for his dedication and leadership and look forward to his future service to the country. Learn more about Amir's impact at MJC here: https://lnkd.in/e-Ytegy8

On this day in 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act into law. This pivotal legislation states that no federal, state, or local government could in any way impede people from voting because of their race or ethnicity. 59 years later, we are still fighting to protect the freedom to vote —especially for people of color. From restoring voting rights to the disenfranchised to protecting access to the ballot booth to safeguarding vote-by-mail, the MacArthur Justice Center has fought against deliberate barriers to voting. We are committed to upholding the Voting Rights Act's vision and ensuring everyone can cast ballots freely, safely, and equally.

JOIN US: Register now to reserve a ticket for Realizing Release: Parole Advocacy and the Fight for Decarceration, a two-day convening hosted by the National Parole Transformation Project at the MacArthur Justice Center. This event will take place September 14-15. Register now at bit.ly/realizingrelease

The MacArthur Justice Center is looking for a Communications Intern who is eager to learn and support our Communications Team. The intern will learn how MJC leverages strategic communications to reach its litigation, advocacy, and change goals.   This is a 10-12-week paid internship opportunity for candidates living in Washington, DC, Chicago, IL, or St. Louis, MO. Learn more and apply at https://lnkd.in/evTwcSgk

BREAKING: The Cook County Board is considering a $7.25 million settlement for Charles Johnson, a member of the "Marquette Park Four", who was wrongly imprisoned for nearly three decades. Alexa Van Brunt, an MJC attorney for Charles Johnson, welcomes the settlement and acknowledges there is still more work to be done to prevent future injustices like this one. Learn more about the settlement in the Chicago Tribune https://lnkd.in/gjXgHG6t