Parole Discussion Hosted at Northwestern
Advocates from Project Sound Off and the National Parole Transformation Project addressed limits of parole at a Northwestern University event.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Criminal Justice
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Northwestern's Undergraduate Prison Education Partnership hosted representatives from Project Sound Off and the National Parole Transformation Project for a discussion on parole on Tuesday, November 4, 2026. Speakers described the limitations of parole and urged attendees to reconsider the illusion of freedom it presents to the public.
Why it matters
The discussion gives Evanston residents and Northwestern students a firsthand look at how parole operates from the perspective of people who have been incarcerated and the advocates working with them. It also highlights ongoing reform efforts tied to Illinois' criminal justice system.
The event was a public discussion rather than a legal proceeding, and no specific cases or charges were reported. The National Parole Transformation Project's underlying policy positions were not detailed in the source.
The players
National Parole Transformation Project
A national organization that advocates for parole reform and hosted its "Realizing Release" convention at Pritzker School of Law.
Project Sound Off
A nonprofit organization working on Illinois' criminal justice reform movement, with which Khalif Veal serves as executive director.
The details
Jazmine Salas, Community Outreach Lead of the National Parole Transformation Project, and Khalif Veal, Executive Director of Project Sound Off, spoke at the event. Veal, who was formerly incarcerated, described the long process of navigating parole, while Salas recounted first meeting him by phone about seven years ago during his incarceration. Weinberg senior Joyce Wang helped organize the event.
Timeline
Around seven years ago: Salas first met Veal over the phone while he was incarcerated.
2024: Veal began working with Project Sound Off.
Tuesday, November 4, 2026: Northwestern hosted the parole discussion.
November 14 to 15, 2026: The National Parole Transformation Project will hold its convention "Realizing Release" at Pritzker School of Law.
Criminal Justice Context
The discussion extends Northwestern's Undergraduate Prison Education Partnership into public advocacy on parole, bringing formerly incarcerated voices into an Evanston campus forum. It positions parole reform within Illinois' broader criminal justice reform movement, which Project Sound Off addresses directly.
Evanston residents and Northwestern students have the opportunity to attend the NPTP convention at Pritzker School of Law on November 14 to 15. The discussion offers a public window into parole processes that affect families and communities across Illinois.
The takeaway
Parole decisions shape years of people's lives, and hearing from those who have navigated the system firsthand can help the public look past the appearance of freedom it offers. Residents interested in the issue can follow upcoming convention programming from the National Parole Transformation Project.
What happens next
The National Parole Transformation Project will hold its "Realizing Release" convention at Pritzker School of Law on November 14 to 15, 2026.
Further reading
Explore more Criminal Justice coverage for Evanston.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Northwestern.
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