To reform policing, Illinois must rehabilitate its errant labor laws

By Vincent Caruso

07/28/2020

A police union contract that protects deviant officers while muzzling those who wish to serve honorably is one set up to fail the public.

TAGS: government unions, Lori Lightfoot, police brutality, police misconduct

Illinois Supreme Court denies Chicago police union request to destroy misconduct records

By Mailee Smith

06/19/2020

While Illinois law explicitly states union contracts trump all other state laws, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled a police contract allowing the destruction of disciplinarily records defies public policy and cannot be enforced.

TAGS: CPD: Chicago Police Department, Illinois Supreme Court, police misconduct, 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

Jury awards record $44.7M in Chicago police misconduct case

By Brendan Bakala

10/30/2017

This latest amount broke the previous city payout record of $25 million for a wrongful conviction suit in 2012.

TAGS: CPD: Chicago Police Department, criminal justice reform, police misconduct

Chicago Police Department audit reveals millions lost in overtime abuse and waste

By Brendan Bakala

10/04/2017

The city’s police department has gone over budget for overtime every year for the past six years, costing Chicago taxpayers $575 million in spending for overtime pay.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department, criminal justice reform, police, police misconduct

Cost of police misconduct highlights need for risk management

By Bryant Jackson-Green

07/16/2016

The city of Chicago paid over $146 million in police misconduct and public safety claims in 2013 and 2014, according to the city inspector general’s report.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department, criminal justice reform, Laquan McDonald, police, police body cameras, police misconduct, Rahm Emanuel

Chicago police unions are fighting to destroy decades of complaint records

By Austin Berg

12/14/2015

Tens of thousands of Chicago police misconduct files could be purged due to lawsuits filed by police unions.

TAGS: CPD: Chicago Police Department, good government, police misconduct

Body cameras for police a win for citizens, officers and taxpayers

By Bryant Jackson-Green

09/23/2014

What’s a low-cost way to improve police accountability in Illinois while saving taxpayer dollars? Some say body cameras for police officers. After the events in Ferguson, MO, several editorials have encouraged Illinois police officers to wear body cameras as a way to deter misconduct, and some departments have already signed on to the idea. But...

TAGS: Chicago, police, police body cameras, police misconduct

To prevent political bribery in Illinois, change the House Rules

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s power over Illinois politics is more precarious than ever. A steady stream of federal investigations, wiretaps and raids of people close to him, a deferred prosecution agreement with Commonwealth Edison wherein the utility giant admitted to bribing the speaker, and a grand jury subpoena served to Madigan’s office have led...

View Report

To prevent political bribery in Illinois, change the House Rules

Report Archive

Laura Valdez

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students