Michael Sweig

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michael Read: “From Practicing Law to Changing it,” by Dawn Turner Trice, Chicago Tribune August 1, 2010

Mr. Sweig was appointed by Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton, to serve as one of twelve members from outside the Governor’s cabinet on the Criminal Justice Information Authority Task Force to Inventory Employment Barriers.

Employment of people with criminal records who have paid their dues is the key social policy that substantially reduces recidivism (re-offending).

Education is the foundation for any sustainable, meaningful employment.

Michael Sweig was fortunate to work as the Public Policy Liaison for Chicago’s Safer Foundation until his position was terminated for lack of funding in August, 2010. At Safer Foundation, Mr. Sweig learned - among other things - that in the U.S., there is in the reentry community far too little outreach and almost no support services for white-collar and other typically educated people with criminal records.

What’s more, people with criminal records are by and large separated from each other and almost nowhere taught to be advocates for themselves and one another. Inspired to address this problem, and in so doing having become committed to give all people with criminal records necessary legitimacy and voice, Mr. Sweig recognized that anything can be accomplished with the “3 M’s”: message, manpower, and money.

And so it is, Michael Sweig is the founder and spokesman for the new association, People with Criminal Records United, and the non-profit foundation located in Chicago, Institute for People with Criminal Records. Their joint mission is to seek equal justice under law, and for the first time in American history, to empower people with criminal records to speak with a collective, unified and educated voice in the US Congress, state legislatures, counties and municipalities nationwide.

People with Criminal Records United is the first and only association for people with criminal records, of which there are 65 million in the United States, with approximately 700,000 more released from state and federal prisons, and 9 million from local jails, annually.

People with Criminal Records United will pursue meaningful employment, improved access to higher education and equal opportunities of all kinds through, among other things, lobbying and advocacy by and for educated and rehabilitated people with criminal records.

The Institute for People with Criminal Records (an Illinois non-profit) will provide academic support for our lobbying and advocacy, and among other things, train educated people with criminal records as criminal justice reform lobbyists and advocates.

A primary goal is that leaders in the victims’ rights, business and law enforcement communities will trust us to collaborate effectively, and with political sensitivity, on how best incrementally to reform legislation that protects public safety and empowers people with criminal records.

PCR logo In September 2009, Illinois State Representative Constance A. “Connie” Howard, (D, 34th), presented Mr. Sweig with a Criminal Justice Reform Advocacy award for “his invaluable contribution” to assist people who seek a second chance to become productive citizens.

November 1, 2010 Michael Sweig is a Featured Thinker on BestThinking.com.

November 2010 The Institute for People with Criminal Records and Protestants for the Common Good, Chicago, form a Consortium Partnership.

November 2010 Rev. Al Sharp, Executive Director of Protestants for the Common Good joins the Board of Directors of the Institute for People with Criminal Records.

October 2010 The Institute for People with Criminal Records and Community Outreach Service Center, Inc., Denver, form a Consortium Partnership and sign a fiscal agency agreement.

October 2010 Pastor Robert Woolfolk of Denver’s Agape Church joins the Board of Directors of the Institute for People with Criminal Records.

September 2010 Mr. Sweig was appointed by Illinois Senate President John J. Cullerton, to serve as one of twelve members from outside the Governor's cabinet on the Criminal Justice Information Authority Task Force to Inventory Employment Barriers.

December 2010 The Journal for Social Justice at De PaulCollege of Law will publish “Moving the Box by Executive Order in Illinois,” by Michael Sweig, and Melissa McClure.

The article advocates the use of an executive order to remove the criminal background inquiry box from State of Illinois employment applications.

August 2010 Read: “From Practicing Law to Changing it,” by Dawn Turner Trice, Chicago Tribune August 1, 2010

“Michael Sweig, a convicted felon and former high-powered attorney, helped shepherd legislation last year that gives ex-offenders an opportunity to apply for jobs previously off-limits.” . . . read more

The California Wellness Foundation Violence Prevention Conference October 20, 2010 ~ Los Angeles, CA
Workshop: Safe and Successful Reentry Strategies
Focus: When the prison doors open, and incarcerated young people return to their homes and communities, are we ready to provide alternatives to a violence-based lifestyle? Panelists will discuss promising reentry strategies, share lessons learned and propose ways for communities to work together to address this issue. Moderator: Michael Sweig, JD

photo credit:
Phil Velasquez|Chicago Tribune