House unanimously passes bill to let Illinois parents leave teens home alone

By Dylan Sharkey

03/03/2022

The Illinois House unanimously passed a bill to eliminate the nation’s strictest standard for how old children must be to be left home alone, now set at age 14. The bill lets parents decide when children are responsible enough to briefly be on their own.

TAGS: child abandonment, criminal justice reform, parenting

Bill would let Illinois parents decide when kids are old enough to be home alone

By Dylan Sharkey

02/25/2022

Illinois is the only state to outlaw leaving children home alone until they are 14. Lawmakers are considering throwing out the minimum age altogether, joining 39 other states that leave it up to parents.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, DCFS: Department of Children and Family Services

House bill would eliminate expungement fee for Illinoisans wrongfully arrested, convicted

By Dylan Sharkey

02/18/2022

House bill would eliminate expungement fee for Illinoisans wrongfully arrested, convicted

TAGS: criminal justice reform, expungement, Illinois

Year after George Floyd’s death, police contracts stop Illinois reform

By Mailee Smith

05/25/2021

It has been a year since George Floyd died beneath a Minneapolis police officer’s knee, setting off riots in Chicago and protests across Illinois. Lawmakers vowed reforms, but nothing will change as long as police contracts overpower state law.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, George Floyd, Illinois, police union

In the wake of George Floyd’s death, Springfield has essential work to do

By Austin Berg

06/05/2020

Illinois lawmakers cannot afford to delay action in the wake of George Floyd’s death.

TAGS: BLM: Black Lives Matter, criminal justice reform, Curtis Tarver, Don Harmon, George Floyd, JB Pritzker, Justin Slaughter, Kam Buckner, labor, Lamont Robinson, Maurice West, Mike Madigan, police, police misconduct

How second chances are saving lives in Illinois

By Austin Berg

04/15/2020

Creason’s dream was to become a registered nurse. But for her and many like her in Illinois, that dream nearly died.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, criminal justice reform, nurse

What you need to know about marijuana legalization in Illinois

By Austin Berg

01/01/2020

Answers to frequently asked questions about Illinois’ cannabis legalization law.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, legalization, marijuana

Leaving child Home Alone could land parents in jail this holiday season

12/19/2019

Illinois’ restrictive and vague laws could mean arrest for parents who leave their kids at home while they run a quick holiday errand.

TAGS: Chicago, Christmas, Corey Widen, criminal justice reform, Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois Senate, lawmakers, Natasha Felix, overcriminalization, police, Wilmette, Winnetka

Up to 140,000 able-bodied Illinoisans may need jobs to get food stamps in 2020

By Vincent Caruso

12/05/2019

Just Cook County food stamp recipients were facing work requirements Jan. 1 if they were under age 50, able-bodied and had no dependents. Now the rules will apply throughout Illinois starting April 1.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, Donald Trump, food stamps, Foundation for Government Accountability, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, job creation, jobs, labor force participation rate, Michigan, National Conference of State Legislatures, regulations, small business, SNAP, Springfield, tax burden, unemployment, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Chicago council member calls for decriminalization of magic mushrooms

By Vincent Caruso

10/22/2019

City leaders passed a resolution expressing support for expanding scientific and medicinal research on organic psychedelics in Chicago, with the goal of decriminalizing adult use of the plants and fungi.

TAGS: Brian Hopkins, Chicago, Chicago City Council, criminal justice reform, decriminalization, legalization, magic mushrooms