The Illinois Alliance for Reentry & Justice operates one of the only spaces where currently incarcerated leaders have a voice in public policy decisionmaking. Our innovate participatory democracy model challenges the elitist, patriarchal structures that traditional policymaking processes rely upon, instead daring to redefine public safety and reentry by centering persons with lived experience.

We also focus on legislative developments in the broader criminal legal system reform and abolition ecosystem, facilitating public engagement in order to maximize our impact at every opportunity.

Explore and support our 2026 IL Session Legislative Priorities below.

ILARJ advocates work tirelessly to inform legislators and decisionmakers on the federal, state, and local levels. There are a number of ways that the public can support efforts to remake our systems of justice, promote co-governance, and create a world without cages.

For organizations that wish to connect with ILARJ to platform policy reforms, please reach out to us at contact@ilarj.org. We connect thousands of advocates together across the state of Illinois, and are always open to collaborative, participatory work.