Communications
Policy reform happens with an informed public, one armed with facts and context and an opportunity to consider solutions. ILJP does direct engagement with the media and community groups to provide context, data, and research to elevate all Illinois residents’ understanding of the complex, troubling problems in the criminal legal system and how to solve them.
Journalism seminars
The Illinois Justice Project (ILJP) hosts seminars providing Illinois journalists with information about the latest legal system reform research, including the impact of reforms and ongoing efforts in Illinois to change policy and practices.
In April, ILJP hosted “Effective Reentry: What a Meaningful and Sustained System Demands.” The seminar, held in partnership with Loyola University’s Center for Criminal Research, brought together 10 reporters from Illinois media, 10 student journalists and 10 incarcerated writers to hear from experts and formerly incarcerated people about barriers to reentry that exist in housing and employment, as well as how exposure to trauma inside the Illinois prison system itself complicates a healthy return home. In September 2023, ILJP dedicated a seminar to the new pretrial hearing process in Illinois, which removed cash bail as an option to secure release from jail pending trial. Court officials leading the implementation of the law and researchers who are studying its impacts met directly with reporters to educate them on why the change was needed and how to evaluate it.
Morse Genius Communications Fellows
The Morse-Genius Communications Initiative offers trainings to community organizations looking to expand their audience and share the story of their mission and work through both traditional and social media. The trainings are provided at no cost by the consultancy firm, Ethos, in partnership with ILJP. The trainings have also created a network of some 60 organizations that can be called upon to uplift the story of legal system reform and to counter-balance inaccurate information around the polarizing issues of public safety. ILJP hosted a reception and policy discussion in September 2024 for all Morse Fellows, which included a keynote speech from a graduate of the program and a panel on the need for a statewide public defense system in Illinois.
News Summary
Each week, ILJP emails a weekly roundup of criminal legal system news stories from across Illinois to keep our partners informed on important developments. The distribution list is now over 1,000. Please sign up here.
Candidate stakeholder meetings
ILJP invites candidates for public offices in major Illinois and Chicago area political races, including gubernatorial, mayoral and state’s attorney to submit answers to a questionnaire and meet in-person with members of organizations across the state that are working on legal system reform. These meetings are facilitated by ILJP as a way for candidates to hear directly from those closest to reform work and those most directly impacted by the legal system. The latest meetings were held in Winter 2024 with Cook County State’s Attorney Democratic Candidates Eileen O’Neill Burke and Clayton Harris.
Resources
FWD.us and The Center for Just Journalism Publish Recommendations for Reducing Bias Against People Impacted by the Criminal Justice System.
Messaging Guide: Countering “Tough on Crime” Rhetoric with a “Serious About Safety” Frame. National, Statewide, and Local messaging research.