Illinois becomes 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana
Illinois becomes 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana
The Land of Lincoln is the first state to legalize recreational marijuana via the legislative process rather than a ballot initiative.
By Vincent Caruso, Austin Berg
Illinois lawmakers pass marijuana legalization
Illinois lawmakers pass marijuana legalization
A bill that would legalize recreational marijuana in Illinois is en route to the highest office in the state.
By Vincent Caruso
Illinois Senate unanimously votes to help wrongfully accused clear their name
Illinois Senate unanimously votes to help wrongfully accused clear their name
Illinois state senators voted 53-0 to extend a pilot program that would waive the fee to expunge or seal records for those wrongfully arrested or charged with a crime in Cook County.
Illinoisans sentenced to life as ex-cons, even after offenses are no longer crimes
Illinoisans sentenced to life as ex-cons, even after offenses are no longer crimes
Illinois lawmakers’ approach to some minor criminal offenses has evolved, but not their treatment of the related criminal records that can haunt someone for life. A pair of bills could change that.
By Vincent Caruso
Restoring Justice Act would give less time to Illinoisans when their offense becomes less of a crime
Restoring Justice Act would give less time to Illinoisans when their offense becomes less of a crime
As Illinois works to decriminalize minor offenses, the Restoring Justice Act would adjust sentences for past offenders.
By Vincent Caruso
Pilot program for medical marijuana as alternative to opioids goes into effect
Pilot program for medical marijuana as alternative to opioids goes into effect
The Opioid Alternative Pilot Program launched Jan. 31, giving more Illinoisans the option to treat pain with medical marijuana in place of opioids.
Harry Jackson
Harry Jackson
“At 20 years old, you don’t think, ‘We found some pot. This could affect the rest of my life.’ “We were riding dirt bikes out in the woods. And we stopped to take a rest, and went ‘what is that?’ And they were these tall little hemp plants. “They were useless. I had them months...
Lingering in the left lane? Illinois State Police may give you a $120 ticket
Lingering in the left lane? Illinois State Police may give you a $120 ticket
Illinois State Police announced plans to aggressively crack down on misuse of the left lane on interstate highways, deploying “covert vehicles” to boost enforcement.
By Vincent Caruso
Home alone: Unattended 13-year-old? Police can arrest the parents in Illinois
Home alone: Unattended 13-year-old? Police can arrest the parents in Illinois
Illinois’ law mandating a minimum age for leaving children home alone is the most restrictive in the nation. That should change.
By Vincent Caruso, Jeffrey Schwab
Marijuana convictions soon might come off Illinois criminal records
Marijuana convictions soon might come off Illinois criminal records
Illinoisans convicted of possession of cannabis prior to the state’s 2016 decriminalization law could see those crimes expunged under a bill passed by the Illinois House.
By Vincent Caruso
Illinois school district drops controversial eavesdropping case against former student
Illinois school district drops controversial eavesdropping case against former student
Prosecution lawyers for an Illinois school district have decided not to move forward with their case against Paul Boron, who was charged with felony eavesdropping at age 13 for recording audio of a meeting with his middle school principal.
By Austin Berg
These Illinois Halloween laws might scare you
These Illinois Halloween laws might scare you
Scraping through a few hundred municipal codes in Illinois didn’t turn up any trick-or-treat ordinances allowing for jail time. But fines associated with age limits, curfews, masks and more were aplenty.
By Austin Berg
How a ballot selfie could put you in jail in Illinois
How a ballot selfie could put you in jail in Illinois
There are clear First Amendment issues with outlawing this kind of political speech.
By Austin Berg
Rauner signs bill removing barriers for human trafficking survivors
Rauner signs bill removing barriers for human trafficking survivors
Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed into law a measure allowing human trafficking survivors to apply to have their criminal records sealed for offences committed under coercion.
By Janelle Cammenga