Social Worker

The Illinois Prison Project (IPP) is a nonprofit organization in Chicago that seeks to reduce mass incarceration by providing legal services to individuals incarcerated in the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC). IPP focuses on novel and creative approaches to prison reduction and engages in public education, advocacy, and direct legal representation. IPP’s mechanisms for release include clemency, parole, youthful parole, medical release, resentencing, administrative relief, and post-conviction filings. IPP is hiring a full-time Social Worker. Candidates should be available to begin full-time work no later than September 15,  2026.

Candidates should be passionate about decarcerative work, attentive to detail, and possess excellent professional communication skills. 

Under the direct supervision of the Social Work Supervisor, the Social Worker will support clients with reentry and access to services and will support clients with advanced medical or mental health needs.

Note: IPP requires all team members to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Proof of vaccination or booster will be required.

Responsibilities:

• Case management of incarcerated and released clients, which includes support in the following areas:
  
  • Reentry planning and assistance upon release from prison 
  • Conducting, writing and testifying on release plans and mitigation reports 
  • Support in applying for and securing medical care, including for clients who are terminally ill, medically incapacitated, or have a disability
  • Mental health care planning 
    
    • Assessment and treatment planning 
    • Crisis intervention and deescalation
  • Coordination of medical and mental health care, including assistance with benefits, appointments and transportation 
• Assistance in maintaining relationships with care providers and community partners
• Administrative support as needed and which may include the following:
  
  • Responding to client communications
  • Scheduling legal calls
  • Discrete research and drafting
  • Records collection and review 
  • Incoming and outgoing mail
• Other duties as assigned

‍Desired Qualifications:

• Master’s Degree in Social Work; Illinois Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) preferred
• Minimum two years of social work experience
• Experience working with system-impacted clients and individuals with serious mental illness 
• Experience navigating complex systems, including benefits, medical care, mental health systems, and housing systems
• Experience managing caseload of over 30+ clients with various needs
• Experience testifying preferred
• Prior professional and/or lived experience related to ending incarceration, community violence, gender based violence, and/or trauma-informed or anti-violence work
• Has a deep commitment to criminal legal change in Illinois and social, economic, and racial justice

Start Date: September 15, 2026‍

Location: IPP maintains a hybrid work environment, including working remotely and out of IPP’s office at 53 West Jackson Blvd in Chicago, Illinois. For this role, in-person days are required, and regular travel throughout the state will be required. Hiring preference is given to local candidates or candidates who plan to relocate locally.

Reports To: Social Work Supervisor

Compensation: This is a full-time position with a starting salary of $65,549 - $85,218 and guaranteed quarterly bonuses, making the total salary equivalent to $68,999 - $89,703 in accordance with IPP’s payscale, which is based on experience. Full benefits include a 36-hour work week (half-day Fridays), 20 days of vacation leave, 2 additional weeks of office-wide closure for winter and summer breaks, sick/wellness leave, professional development stipend, and 401(k), along with health, dental, vision, long-term disability, short-term disability, and life insurance. IPP also makes a flat $1,000 contribution to all employees' 401(k) accounts.

Illinois Prison Project is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion or belief, sex, pregnancy, national or ethnic origin, age, disability, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, military and veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Illinois Prison Project believes that diversity and inclusion among our teammates is critical to our success as an organization, and we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. 

How to Apply: 

• Please send via email a resume, cover letter, writing sample, and three professional references, in a single PDF file, to hiring@illinoisprisonproject.org with “Social Worker” in the subject line. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 
• Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis until August 14, 2026. 
• Due to the large volume of applicants, we will not be able to reply to individual emails about an applicant’s status. No phone calls, please.