Laurie Reynolds

Laurie Reynolds is a policy advocate and artist who challenges the demonization, warehousing, and social exclusion of people in the criminal legal system, often long-term efforts at the margins of political viability. In collaboration with justice advocates, state officials, and people directly affected by violence and incarceration, she works for policies that truly prevent victimization, and restore and rehabilitate, rather than sabotage, people with criminal records. Along with Solitary Watch, she co-leads the ongoing participatory project Photo Requests from Solitary. She also serves on the board of the Prison Policy Initiative, on the legislative team of Parole Illinois, on the board of Narrative Arts, and was the UIC faculty advisor to the YES APPLY ILLINOIS! campaign to remove invasive and humiliating questions about past convictions from the admissions process in public higher education.