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]...
The case for updating Illinois’ felony-theft laws
The case for updating Illinois’ felony-theft laws
To make Illinois smarter on crime and save taxpayer dollars, theft laws must be kept up to date
Rauner signs Cook County jail reform
Rauner signs Cook County jail reform
New “rocket docket” reform could reduce lengthy pretrial jail stays for some accused of minor property crimes, saving Illinois taxpayers up to $143 per inmate each day.
Did your child miss 90 minutes of school this year? Illinois’ truancy law could put you in jail
Did your child miss 90 minutes of school this year? Illinois’ truancy law could put you in jail
Is criminally charging the parents of a truant child an appropriate way to handle missing class?
Rauner signs bill helping nonviolent offenders get their records sealed
Rauner signs bill helping nonviolent offenders get their records sealed
A person’s ability to find work is one of the most important factors determining whether he or she stays out of the criminal-justice system.
Rauner signs bill expanding ‘Certificates of Good Conduct’
Rauner signs bill expanding ‘Certificates of Good Conduct’
A new law gives former offenders the chance to demonstrate rehabilitation and find employment.
Rauner signs bill protecting wrongfully arrested
Rauner signs bill protecting wrongfully arrested
A new Illinois law will help clear the records of innocent people wrongfully arrested due to mistaken identity.
Chicago issued over 1,836 red-light camera tickets per day in last 4 years
Chicago issued over 1,836 red-light camera tickets per day in last 4 years
Chicago’s red-light cameras are merely a way for the city to extract more money from drivers; they have nothing to do with public safety.
Rehabilitation, restitution undermined by Illinois’ supersized criminal-justice system
Rehabilitation, restitution undermined by Illinois’ supersized criminal-justice system
Illinois lags behind other states in its efforts to curb recidivism through offender rehabilitation.
Rauner signs law establishing statewide rules for use of police body cameras
Rauner signs law establishing statewide rules for use of police body cameras
Police body cameras and other reforms will help save taxpayer dollars and improve both police accountability and public safety.