December 31 is quickly approaching. As we race to the finish line to meet our End-of-Year fundraising goal to unlock our $75,000 matching gift opportunity, I’d like to talk to you more about how your contribution makes an impact.
NCLEJ is suing the State of Illinois and its contractors to secure critical disability accommodations for Mark Davenport, a disabled individual on Mandatory Supervised Release (MSR — Illinois’ version of parole), who was unnecessarily and illegally sent back to prison for four months in retaliation for requesting disability accommodations at his former MSR residence. Last week, we filed a motion for preliminary injunction to prevent further diminution in our client's health.
Through this lawsuit, Mr. Davenport has requested that the State and other defendants be compelled to immediately provide disability accommodations for him. As of this moment, Mr. Davenport continues to be denied proper accommodations for his disabilities at his current MSR residence, and the State’s contractors have threatened to return him to prison rather than provide the accommodations to which he is entitled.
The State’s behavior here is both immoral and illegal. Sadly, it’s also just one example of the State’s broader practice of refusing to ensure that its facilities and contractors provide disability accommodations to people on parole in Illinois. That practice has led to botched discharges — and pointless reincarceration — for hundreds of people with disabilities across the State in recent years.
NCLEJ brings cases like these to hold State governments accountable for violating the rights of people with disabilities. The legal victories we secure can have a broad and enduring impact on individuals living with disabilities, while establishing important legal precedents for future cases.
The National Center for Law and Economic Justice advances racial and economic justice through ground-breaking impact litigation, policy advocacy, and support for grassroots organizing. We have provided legal representation and support since 1965.
