On Nov. 21, I went to a holiday card signing event put on by Restore Justice Foundation, an organization focused on youth impacted by the Illinois criminal legal system’s most extreme prison sentences. Restore Justice hosted a family support group, called Communities and Relatives of Illinois Incarcerated Children (CRIIC), at the Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation to sign holiday cards for people who are incarcerated.
At the event, cards were passed around to be signed, conversation filled the air, and the overall energy was uplifting. I was able to chat with attendees and hear stories about their incarcerated loved ones. In these conversations, I learned of the challenges that family members of incarcerated loved ones encounter and experience, down to the strict requirements implemented for those sending holiday cards to their incarcerated loved ones. Letters cannot be written with gel pens, felt tip markers or pencils. They cannot contain any glitter, embossment, embellishment or labels. And all the envelopes have to be stamped, and hand addressed.
Many loved ones go the extra mile for their family, such as Johnny Johnson, a South Side native who has three family members currently incarcerated: his son Johnny Johnson, Jr., his brother Billy Johnson who is deaf and mute, and his cousin Allen Johnson.
Johnson is very active in keeping in touch with his family behind bars. This year marked his second Christmas card signing with Restore Justice, and works closely with them throughout the year. Restore Justice has helped tremendously with his son’s case.
Currently his brother Billy Johnson is at Danville Correctional Center. which is a three-hour drive from Chicago. His son Johnny Johnson Jr., is at Vienna Correctional Center, which is about a five-hour drive. Johnson makes it his priority to support his son, brother and cousin with frequent phone calls, mail and regular visits despite having to travel hours away. He values any time he can get with them and doesn’t take it for granted.
“Billy has been gone for 23 years and it brings me hope by talking to him and knowing that he’s standing strong so that picks me up. You know what I mean? And he puts fire under me to keep going, keep knocking on these doors and keep calling,” Johnson said about his brother who is currently serving a 53-year sentence at Danville Correctional Center.
“And if I hadn’t found Restore Justice, I’d probably be sitting somewhere in a depression and a bad state of mind, not feeling like continuing and [feeling] like there isn’t any hope. But ever since I came upon Restore Justice, I feel like there’s some hope left,” Johnson added.
