THE WJI RECLAMATION PROJECT

THE RECLAMATION PROJECT

Join our community of mutual support and advocacy.

The WJI Reclamation Project is a sisterhood of women leaders whose lives have been impacted by the criminal legal system. We come together to ​​reclaim justice for women, our children and families through mutual support and transformative advocacy.​​​​ 

False narratives do more than fuel the mass incarceration of women. They hide the real problems that create it.They shape policies and systems, compounding the damage. And they cost real money—in Illinois, $1.4 billion in the last decade alone.​

In April 2021, the nation’s first entirely women-led Task Force published a bold strategy to end the mass incarceration of women and confront the false narratives that fuel it. 

Elevated by the leadership of directly impacted women, the Task Force engaged over 500 women  – including family members, advocates, social service providers, judges, prosecutors, corrections officials, policymakers, academics, health professionals and more – on solutions.

The impacted leaders behind this historic effort came together to form The Reclamation Project, a powerful collective working together to shift their work with the Task Force on redefining the narrative to reclaiming it. 

From Redefining the Narrative to Reclaiming It
WJI Reclamation Project leaders  produce powerful video confronting
the false narratives that ​​​​​​​​​​​
fuel women's mass incarceration
In June 2022, the WJI organized the first-in- the nation prison-based film screening and panel discussion of the powerful film, "And So I Stayed," at Decatur Correctional Center and Logan Correctional Center. 

Led by WJI Writer in Residence Sandra Brown, the panels revealed how deeply the film resonated with far too many incarcerated women in Illinois.  

An unconscionable number of survivors are incarcerated for fighting to save their own lives, and it is time for them to be seen, to be heard, to be believed and - most importantly - to be free. 

Given the limitations of a prison, the showing of “And So I Stayed,” was, as the filmmaker would say later, not the best technical presentation.

But it was by far the most meaningful.

The film — which documents efforts to pass a law in New York that allows survivors of gender-based violence to present the abuse they suffered as consideration for new, shorter sentences — was being shown for the first time to an audience inside a correctional facility, and specifically to people who had been convicted of serious crimes they argue were related to abuse.

As the group, mostly women, watched the film’s stories of three survivors, including the abuse and torture they suffered, the anguished 911 calls they made to report their crimes and the strained phone conversations with their children from prison, those at Logan nodded in agreement and shook their heads in frustration. They wept openly but silently, passing tissues to each other. They reached for support, holding hands or touching each other’s shoulders in shared grief.

In fact, sentencing relief for victims of domestic violence has been possible in Illinois since 2016, when the state became one of the first in the nation, ahead of New York, to pass legislation. It offers the chance not to reargue underlying criminal charges in a case, but rather that a resentencing is in order to consider whether domestic violence played a role either directly or indirectly in a conviction.

Some of the sentences that could be reconsidered are long — more than 20 years in some cases.


But while more than two dozen people in New York have benefited from the law, advocates here are aware of just four women who have been helped in Illinois, a figure they find unacceptable considering they know of some 60 in the state who have filed petitions.
The filings are being turned back by both technicalities and a legal system that has struggled to evolve and recognize how perpetrators of violence can be victims too, advocates said.

“What I think a lot of you know is we do have a domestic violence resentencing law in Illinois, but that it is not working,” attorney Alexis Mansfield told the group at Logan. “Over half the people in this room right now have filed petitions. ... If only four people benefit, it is not working.”

Legislation to refine the law has made its way through the Illinois House, but it has so far stalled in the state Senate, which the sponsor attributes to “reform fatigue” around criminal justice.

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy at a news conference in Edgewater on Nov. 1, 2021. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
“The most glaring difference for me is the original bill was a collaborative effort,” said Rep. Kelly Cassidy, who added that now in Springfield some are refusing to engage at all on the proposed fixes. “They say, ‘haven’t we done enough?”

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
JUNE 19 2022 BY: ANNIE SWEENEY

"We are not monsters": Women in Illinois prisons who allege they were victims of domestic violence see their struggle in film
 


"Look at Me"​

Criminalized survivors of gender-based violence inside of women's prisons are
all-too-often ignored or forgotten in discussions about domestic violence awareness.

This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, twenty-two incarcerated survivors and the WJI joined together to share their stories and raise awareness of policy solutions to end the criminalization of survival.

These incredibly talented, loving, and resilient survivors recorded a performance and livestreamed panel on public policy solutions for the general public for the first time ever from an IDOC women's facility.

Incarcerated Survivors at Logan Correctional Center partner with WJI to share their stories in honor of DV Awareness Month.  

"Earlier this year, the institute released a lengthy report that included 250 recommendations, ranging from eliminating prison charges for basic needs to mass commutations for women where a history of gender-based violence was not initially considered by the court system.

The report was intended to be a blueprint for any elected official, policymaker or agency.
 
Some of those in the “Look At Me” performance, including Ray, have been involved in the statewide reform effort.
 
But the event Wednesday marked a new level of engagement, Ray explained at the end of the panel when she was asked about whether incarcerated survivors have been included in the #MeToo movement.
 
“Today we’re included in that movement,” Ray answered. “... I think we have said, we deserve a space there too. Every story that was told in this piece, the stories that we hear when we are in our cells and when somebody can’t sleep. ... Those stories that we hear that were not told today — those stories we carry with us when we perform. ... We’re here.”" 
 

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
NOVEMBER 1 2021 BY: ANNIE SWEENEY

Performances by Illinois prisoners explore domestic violence —
and the public is given rare chance to see behind prison walls 
 

Contact The Reclamation Project Team 

Whether you connect with us virtually or at the ​​​WJI Reclamation Center in Chicago, we offer a safe and creative space where system-impacted women collaborate in powerful ways to end women's mass incarceration.

No matter where you are on your journey, we offer a variety of peer-led programs and events that facilitate support, connection, healing, personal and professional growth and "real justice" with-and-for our sisters on both sides of the wall.​

System-impacted women and gender expansive people are welcome! If you are interested in learning more, becoming a member or joining our mailing list, please complete our online Reclamation Project Membership Form.

Join us to create real justice for women, our children, families
and communities. 

Featured Events

​​We welcome all of our sisters who have been impacted by the criminal legal system - at any point along their journey. Join us whether you need support, you want to reach back and provide support - or both. 

Reclamation Circles will be offered every two weeks, alternating between in person and virtual participation. 

Join us in person at the WJI's new Reclamation Center in Chicago or virtually via Zoom.

For more information: contact@womensjusticeinstitute.org

Reclamation Circles are entirely peer-led, and bring women together in powerful ways to share, heal and reclaim our lives, and also connect with meaningful resources. 

Partnering with the Reclamation Center

The WJI has launched the Reclamation Center, a creative, restorative space in Chicago where we collaborate in powerful ways to end women's mass incarceration. This space is dedicated to building community, mutual support, arts and advocacy, training, leadership development and networking. ​​​​

Through the Reclamation Center, we partner to offer events, programs and services that are specifically designed to benefit system-impacted women and gender expansive individuals in multiple ways. ​Please complete this form to share how you would like to use the center and partner with our team. ​​

Email us to learn more about ways we can collaborate and support one another

contact@womensjusticeinstitute.org​