Illinois becomes 11th state to legalize recreational marijuana

By Vincent Caruso, Austin Berg

06/25/2019

The Land of Lincoln is the first state to legalize recreational marijuana via the legislative process rather than a ballot initiative.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, JB Pritzker, marijuana

What you need to know about marijuana legalization in Illinois

By Austin Berg

06/01/2019

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

TAGS: criminal justice reform, legalization, marijuana

Illinois lawmakers pass marijuana legalization

By Vincent Caruso

05/31/2019

A bill that would legalize recreational marijuana in Illinois is en route to the highest office in the state.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, expungement, Kelly Cassidy, legalization, licensing, marijuana, regulations

Illinois Senate unanimously votes to help wrongfully accused clear their name

By Joe Kaiser

04/05/2019

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.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, expungement, Jacqueline Collins

Illinoisans sentenced to life as ex-cons, even after offenses are no longer crimes

By Vincent Caruso

03/25/2019

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.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, expungement, Justin Slaughter, Laura Fine

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