State Rep. Cassidy reintroduces marijuana decriminalization bill
State Rep. Cassidy reintroduces marijuana decriminalization bill
Twenty states and the District of Columbia have removed the threat of jail time for simple marijuana possession.
Illinois Attorney General asks for federal probe of Chicago Police Department
Illinois Attorney General asks for federal probe of Chicago Police Department
Madigan’s letter to the Justice Department came on the same day Chicago’s police superintendent, Garry McCarthy, resigned at the request of Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Law enforcement now seizes more property from citizens than burglars
Law enforcement now seizes more property from citizens than burglars
U.S. law enforcement took in more than $5 billion from the American public in 2014 through asset forfeiture, compared to the $3.5 billion lost nationally to burglary.
Adult Redeploy has saved Illinois $64 million
Adult Redeploy has saved Illinois $64 million
Illinois can save thousands per inmate by expanding cost-effective alternatives to prison for nonviolent offenders.
Illinois bidding out 20,000 cameras for police
Illinois bidding out 20,000 cameras for police
Illinois is taking bids for a supplier to equip 1,000 police officers and another 1,000 patrol cars with mobile cameras.
Veterans courts: How Illinois can help its incarcerated veterans
Veterans courts: How Illinois can help its incarcerated veterans
Veterans courts provide Illinois a more effective way to address offenders who have served in the military, allowing the state to rely less on incarceration
Fixing Illinois’ criminal-justice system means embracing sentencing reform, removing barriers to work
Fixing Illinois’ criminal-justice system means embracing sentencing reform, removing barriers to work
Alternatives to incarceration for nonviolent offenders
Michigan curtails civil asset forfeiture
Michigan curtails civil asset forfeiture
Under civil asset forfeiture laws in Illinois and across the country, law enforcement can seize property without proving it was involved in a crime. Illinois should follow Michigan’s lead and reform these unjust laws.
A model for Illinois: 4 criminal-justice reforms from U.S. public-safety leaders
A model for Illinois: 4 criminal-justice reforms from U.S. public-safety leaders
Police chiefs and prosecutors increasingly support policies to reduce unnecessary incarceration.
The high cost of recidivism
The high cost of recidivism
Repeat offenses cost Illinois taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars each year; removing obstacles to work would help combat this problem.
Illinois leads nation in overcrowded prisons
Illinois leads nation in overcrowded prisons
Illinois prisons held 150 percent of their maximum capacity in 2014, the highest rate of crowding of any prison system in the country, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
Lisa Creason
Lisa Creason
“On the day I graduated nursing school – I might get a little teary-eyed – but I will never forget coming home from the school and calling my mom and telling her I passed the final. I’m done. I’m actually going to be able to buy my kids a home. I’m actually going to be...
Illinois Justice Forum tackles problems within Illinois’ criminal-justice system
Illinois Justice Forum tackles problems within Illinois’ criminal-justice system
At the Illinois Justice Forum, experts discussed reforms to reduce the cost of Illinois’ criminal-justice system and improve public safety.
Melody Young
Melody Young
There was a boy in this neighborhood who wanted my son to join a gang. Our family doesn’t join gangs. But one day the school called and said my son wasn’t in school so I went driving to look for him. I saw him at the park with that boy and he said, “[Your son’s]...