Chicago 400 Alliance
Alliance of advocates and public stakeholders working together to challenge public conviction registries and residency restrictions
2016–present
Mission
We all want a justice system that makes communities safe, holds people accountable for harm, and supports all people in rebuilding and restoring their lives. But our registry and banishment laws systematically displace, exclude, and reincarcerate people with past convictions, while failing to prevent victimization or support survivors.
As victim, housing, justice, and faith advocates, we see the life-shattering impact of violence. We also see how laws that lead to economic distress, homelessness, and isolation weaken the resilience of families and communities experiencing crime and incarceration. Our alliance is committed to transforming our state responses to violence and challenging these extreme barriers to re-entry.
History of the Work Group on Conviction Registries
State lawmakers have created six public conviction registries, extreme housing banishment laws, presence exclusion zones, and employment and licensing restrictions. Many providers and advocates—working in halfway houses, homeless shelters, mental health treatment, disability services, reentry support, behavioral health, and supportive housing—witness people struggling in this maze of laws and restrictions.
We want to bring accountability into the justice system, which is currently stripping people who have already been punished of basic human needs, blocking our efforts to build positive and productive lives, and wasting resources that could be helping to restore people after victimization and/or punishment.
Over the years, people on the front lines have built a network to coordinate responses to policy issues, and to try to stop legislators from making our reentry policies even worse. We came together for the The Registry 20 Years Later conference in 2016. And we participated and strategized during the recent State Task Force on the issue, hosted by Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority.
Chicago 400 Alliance
We are leveraging the efforts of this group to support the Chicago 400 campaign. The Chicago 400 are in a long-term crisis of homelessness, an expected consequence of our state banishment laws and policies, which have compounded the impact of poverty, violence, and racism. The Chicago 400 are people subject to the most damaging policies targeting those with past convictions, most who themselves are victims or have exposure to violence. Together, we are building a new united front, where advocates in reentry, housing, mental health, addiction, and victim services take a stand to oppose the damaging impact of current practices. Please join us to urge legislators to abolish these damaging policies that sabotage reentry and create a endless loop of poverty, homlessness, and re-incarceration.
Our work with the Chicago 400 includes:
—Supporting Chicago 400 members in their pursuit of civic and leadership training
—Conducting trainings and workshops to share information and develop skills
—Attending and/or speaking at the quarterly Chicago 400 conferences
—Working individually with Chicago 400 members to see if we can provide specific resources
—Meeting with the group to discuss campaign issues and strategy
—Volunteering for the McDonald’s Legal Talk Desk and providing resources for case research
—Organizing faith support for those in crisis
We need to establish a strong and broad base of support so that policymakers will step up and change these harmful policies. We are working to build these partnerships. If you would like to join the Chicago 400 Alliance, please contact info at chicago400.net.
Organizations
Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation (CAASE)
Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (CAARPR)
Shriver Center on Poverty Law
Safer Foundation
Above and Beyond Family Recovery Center
Legal Council for Health Justice
Kolbe House Jail Ministry
Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities (TASC)
Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender
Chicago 400 Alliance Partnership Overview
Residency Restrictions Impact Map-Chicago 400 Alliance
JOSHUA VASQUEZ, ET AL.. v. KIMBERLY FOXX Amicus Brief
Mitchell Hamline School of Law COVID-19 guidance
Murphy v Raoul Permanent Injunction Order-Illinois-March 2020