Jennifer Soble

Prosecutors keep arguing that clemency should be reserved for "miscarriages of justice." That's bullshit. Clemency is mercy, and we must create space for and normalize mercy every chance we get. #commutation #clemency #mercy #secondchances

There are no states where all prisoners have access to legal support. We must build an infrastructure so that every prisoner has access to legal representation. 1/2 inquest.org/lawyerless-no-…

Thankful to the brilliant folks at @_inquest_ for letting me share some thoughts on the state of access to counsel for incarcerated people (spoiler: its dismal and we must do more). inquest.org/lawyerless-no-…

To be clear, I am retiring from the Executive Director position. I intend to spend (some of) my retirement continuing to fight for Illinois prisoners. So, if anyone from the IDOC is reading this, it is too soon to celebrate!

Such an honor to be recognized by the giants at @NACDL, and incredibly grateful to accept this award on behalf of @ILPrisonProject.

@ILPrisonProject is now on TikTok! If you are too, give us a follow there: @illinois.prison.p/video/7384520298302934303?_r=1&_t=8nVBFxdsj7P" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">tiktok.com/@illinois.pris…

No new prisons.

Huge congratulations to @ILPrisonProject Ambassador Rogelio Richart Jr on the opening on his auto-body shop and the work he's doing to give #secondchances to others. ❤️🚘 abc7chicago.com/post/xpress-au…

CR's parole was denied. He will not go back before our parole board for 10 years. We can't create a system that grants freedom to only the exceptional. If we don't parole regular people-who work hard, are loving, are committed to their community-then parole is not meaningful.

CR had housing and two jobs waiting for him. He had not secured acceptance into an elite institution, had not written stories published in national outlets. He had just worked hard to make himself a better person and to survive and thrive in a truly toxic environment.

Next, CR, also a remarkable person who has served his sentence in a heinous facility without access to college, the LSAT, or law school professors. Also had his sentence reduced under Miller. Deeply supported by his community, his family, and his friends.

BK is now on work release, and would have attended law school from prison if he had to. He was granted parole. Not at all surprising. BK deserved to be free. He's an inspiration, but *should not set the bar for parole.*

First: BK, a remarkable person whose accomplishments from behind bars are astonishing. After his life sentence was reduced under Miller, BK graduated from college while in prison, took the LSAT, and got accepted to a Tier I law school. He now works for several law professors.

Illinois' PRb considered 2 youth parole cases today. Youth parole allows people who commit crimes before their 21st bday to seek release after 20 yrs for murder (sooner for less serious crimes). TLDR: If parole is only granted in "exceptional" cases, then the system is a farce.

Daily reminder that around 20% of the nearly 30k people in Illinois’ prisons are elderly. We have no mechanism for mid-sentence review, so people are held in prison years and years longer than necessary for public safety. 🫠

IPP is thrilled to welcome home our client, Tonya “Bam” Woods, who was released today after over 38 years in prison. Bam was represented by pro bono attorney Tara Goodarzi who worked hand-in-hand with Bam to tell the true story of her life and her humanity. (1/5)

@vidabjohnson Congratulations to you all and to your client!!! Fantastic work.

Clinic students and the fellow supervising them just won ANOTHER compassionate release case!

Today, @premaldharia concludes our symposium on @j_simonson's *Radical Acts of Justice,* by discussing a crisis of purpose in public defense - whose workers must contend with the reality that a better world may obviate the need for their labor. lpeproject.org/blog/a-crisis-…

Morning me: I'm going to write today! Mid-day me: as soon as I clean this data, finish four meetings, call the IRS, call the Secretary of State, fix a reporting error....

If you're looking for eclipse glasses right now you understand why same day voter registration is important