Restoring Justice Act would give less time to Illinoisans when their offense becomes less of a crime

By Vincent Caruso

02/14/2019

As Illinois works to decriminalize minor offenses, the Restoring Justice Act would adjust sentences for past offenders.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, Illinois’ Cannabis Control, JB Pritzker, Kelly Cassidy, La Shawn Ford, marijuana

Chicago ‘tow-and-sell’ operation flips 50K cars, buries drivers in debt

By Vincent Caruso

01/22/2019

Chicago has seized and sold nearly 50,000 impounded vehicles since 2011, hitching drivers to mounting debts, a recent investigation found. The city’s ticketing laws disproportionately harm low-income residents.

TAGS: Chicago, criminal justice reform, overcriminalization, Rahm Emanuel, towing

Christmas wish list: 12 gifts for Illinois taxpayers in 2019

By Vincent Caruso

12/19/2018

In 2018, Springfield handed Illinoisans more of the same repackaged policy failures. Lawmakers in the coming year should tape to their desks this wish list of taxpayer-friendly reforms.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, criminal justice reform, education, graduated income tax, income tax, pensions, prison reform, progressive income tax, property taxes, school choice, school district consolidation, sentencing reform, spending cap, U.S. Census Bureau

Home alone: Unattended 13-year-old? Police can arrest the parents in Illinois

By Vincent Caruso, Jeffrey Schwab

12/19/2018

Illinois’ law mandating a minimum age for leaving children home alone is the most restrictive in the nation. That should change.

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

Marijuana convictions soon might come off Illinois criminal records

By Vincent Caruso

11/30/2018

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.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, decriminalization, expungement, marijuana

Illinois school district drops controversial eavesdropping case against former student

By Austin Berg

11/15/2018

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.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, eavesdropping, Paul Boron

These Illinois Halloween laws might scare you

By Austin Berg, Joe Barnas

10/18/2018

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.

TAGS: Belleville, criminal justice reform, decatur, overcriminalization

Rauner signs bill removing barriers for human trafficking survivors

By Janelle Cammenga

09/04/2018

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.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, criminal justice reform, human trafficking, Toi Hutchinson

Momentum builds for pardon of Peoria man who served 15 years for drug offense

By Joe Kaiser

08/28/2018

Jason Spyres was arrested on drug charges nearly 20 years ago. In the years since, he’s been on a path of personal success and growth. A pardon from Gov. Bruce Rauner should follow.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, marijuana, sentencing reform

Rauner signs bill allowing medical marijuana alternative for opioid prescriptions

By Vincent Caruso

08/28/2018

The Alternative to Opioids Act will give more Illinoisans the option to treat pain with medical marijuana.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, criminal justice reform, decriminalization, marijuana, opioid, Toi Hutchinson