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Alan Mills

Executive Director Uptown People's Law Center

Alan Mills is a prominent attorney and human rights advocate who has dedicated his career to fighting for justice and equality. He has been associated with the Uptown People's Law Center (UPLC) in Chicago for 45 years, serving as its Executive Director since 2014.12

Born in 1956 in Baltimore, Mills grew up in a family deeply involved in community organizing and civil rights activism.1 He earned his bachelor's degree in philosophy from Brown University in 1978 and his law degree from Northwestern University in 1981.4

Mills began his journey with UPLC in 1979 as a volunteer law student.2 He became the Legal Director in 1992 and took on the role of Executive Director in 2014.3 Under his leadership, UPLC has become nationally recognized for its work in prisoners' rights, particularly in the fight against solitary confinement.2

Throughout his tenure, Mills has been instrumental in several significant legal battles:

  1. He worked on a class action suit regarding inhumane conditions at the Old Joliet Prison, which lasted nearly two decades.1
  2. He played a crucial role in the closure of the Tamms Correctional Center, known for its harsh solitary confinement practices.1
  3. He has led UPLC in fighting for clean water in Illinois Department of Corrections facilities and securing substantial settlements in cases involving prisoner abuse.1

Mills has announced his retirement from the position of Executive Director in 2024, though he plans to continue supporting UPLC and fighting against inhumane prison conditions in other capacities.2

Highlights

Feb 16 · linkedin

Excellent op-ed by David Shapiro in this morning’s Chicago Tribune. Solitary needs to end in Illinois, and now is the time for the legislature to act. Uptown People's Law Center has been fighting solitary in Illinois since 1982. Now we have a chance to end this horrific human rights abuse.

Support Senator Robert Peters Nelson Mandela Act in the Illinois Senate, and La Shawn K Ford’s Anthony Gay Act in the Illinois House, both of which would put an end to solitary in Illinois. #SolitaryIsTorture #StopSolitary

Related Questions

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Alan Mills
Alan Mills, photo 1
Alan Mills, photo 2
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Location

Greater Chicago Area