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Chicago Beyond’s 2025 National Justice Convening is a two-day event focused on advancing safety within America's jails and prisons. Whether you are managing a facility, working on the front lines, shaping policy, or advocating for change, this convening is your opportunity to reimagine what’s possible—and walk away with tools to create safer carceral environments in your own community, city, or state. 

The convening is rooted in Chicago Beyond’s Holistic Safety Framework, which provides practices and collaborative approaches to increase safety in correctional settings. The framework is based on a simple but transformative idea: safety is not solely about control or compliance—it is about supporting wellness and affirming the humanity of all individuals impacted by incarceration.

This convening builds off the momentum from our inaugural event in 2024, which gathered leaders from over 30 states and systems representing more than 15% of the U.S. incarcerated population.

Chicago Beyond's National Justice Convening is designed for individuals and organizations committed to increasing safety in jails and prisons through collaborative approaches. This event would be ideal for you if you are one of the following: 

• Leaders with Lived Experience: People formerly incarcerated, correctional staff, and their adult family members who can provide invaluable insights into the realities of the carceral system as well as recommendations for change
• Correctional Administrators: Leaders of jails and prisons seeking to learn about, implement, or enhance Holistic Safety practices
• Advocates: People working on the front lines of community safety initiatives that impact jails and prisons
  
• Policymakers and Funders: Legislators, government officials, and philanthropic organizations interested in supporting systemic change in jails and prisons
  
• Researchers and Academics: Scholars focused on justice reform, public safety, and related fields that impact jails and prisons

Chicago Beyond’s National Justice Convening 2025 offers a unique opportunity to engage with a diverse group of stakeholders dedicated to reimagining safety within America’s jails and prisons. Attendees will:

• Contribute to Actionable Solutions: Be part of discussions that aim to develop concrete strategies for implementing Holistic Safety in jails and prisons

• Access Resources and Tools: Gain access to best practices to support your organization’s or department’s efforts for improved wellness and safety for people impacted by jails and prisons

• Learn from Leaders with Lived Experiences: Hear strategies for reform from individuals directly impacted by the carceral system

• Engage with Thought Leaders: Participate in sessions led by experts and practitioners in the field of correctional reform and hear about the successes and challenges of implementing Holistic Safety

• Collaborate Across Sectors: Connect with others across different roles to share ideas and find practical solutions together 

 Thank you for your interest in joining us for the convening. We have reached capacity for this event and the Waiting List is now closed.

If you already sign up for the Waiting List, a member of our team will reach out should any openings become available.

Chicago Beyond’s inaugural National Justice Convening in 2024 set a powerful precedent for collective action in corrections reform. Key moments included:

• Keynote Address by Shaka Senghor: The New York Times bestselling author and advocate for criminal justice reform delivered an inspiring keynote that set the tone for the convening

Panels Featuring Experts and Practitioners

• Meet Holistic Safety: This panel introduced Chicago Beyond’s Holistic Safety Framework, featuring Willette Benford, Senior Advisor, Office of MK Pritzker; Andy Potter, Founder + Executive Director, One Voice United; Stephen B. Walker, National Wellness Director, One Voice United; Ronald Simpson-Bey, Executive Vice President of Strategic Partnerships · JustLeadershipUSA
• Holistic Safety in Action: Panelists shared real-world applications of the Holistic Safety Framework, including Dr. Jane Gubser, Executive Director, Cook County Department of Corrections; Latoya Hughes, Acting Director, Illinois Department of Corrections William Mulligan, Deputy Commissioner of Operations & Rehabilitative Services; State of Connecticut Department of Corrections; James Quanico, Chief, San Francisco Sheriff’s Office; Dr. Ryan Thornell, Director, Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation, and Reentry
  

Gallery Walk: Interactive displays showcased initiatives aimed at reducing isolation and promoting wellness within correctional facilities and included

• Emotional Wellness of Staff: Presented by Jonathan Brown, State of Illinois

• Reducing Physical Isolation for People Incarcerated: Led by Dr. Jane Gubser & Dr. Keyuana Muhammad, Cook County Department of Corrections

• Reducing Emotional Isolation for People Incarcerated: Facilitated by Alissa Riker & Lieutenant Sara O’Malley, San Francisco Sheriff’s Office

• Reducing Interpersonal Isolation Between Staff and People Incarcerated: Presented by Simon Greer & Andy Potter, One Voice United, and Ronald Simpson-Bey, JustLeadershipUSA

Courageous Leadership Discussions

A panel moderated by Ron Taylor, Chief of Prisons Division at the National Institute of Corrections, highlighted the importance of leadership in driving systemic change and included Nicholas Deml, Commissioner, Vermont Department of Corrections; Mark Foxall, PH.D., CJM, Community Service Associate, University of Nebraska at Omaha-School of Criminology and Criminal Justice & Douglas County Department of Corrections, Director (retired); and Rob Jeffreys, Director, Nebraska Department of Correctional Services.

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These sessions provided attendees with valuable insights and practical strategies for implementing Holistic Safety measures within correctional systems.