Cook County and the State of Illinois, much like the rest of the United States lock up tens of thousands of people annually, mostly poor African American and Latino men for non-violent and low level drug related offenses. Once people have been incarcerated and labeled as felons, they are effectively sentenced again—locked into a life of poverty, losing access to employment, to housing, to many other forms of assistance necessary to get a chance at a second chance. SOUL is working to secure a commitment from Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez to partner with SOUL and IIRON to implement administrative and policy changes in her office to:

• Remove barriers to successful completion of the deferred prosecution/community service program as well as expanding the program to include more first time non-violent offenders.
• Support and help pass a resolution at the Cook County Board calling for the removal of bail/bond for all first time non-violent and low level repeat offenders.