On May 20, 2013 by voice vote, the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee passed the Coons Amendment to S. 744, the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act. Through his amendment, Senator Coons has put into place Chicago Appleseed’s and National Appleseed’s long-held belief that there should be no requirement that non-citizens in removal proceedings in… Continue Reading
Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice began in 1970 as the Fund for Justice, a nonprofit research group, dedicated to finding solutions for inadequacies in the legal system. In 1997, the Fund for Justice joined the National Appleseed network to become the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice. Since then, Chicago Appleseed has expanded its research and… Continue Reading
On Wednesday, May 8, 2013 the Chicago Council of Lawyers, the Chicago Lawyer Chapter of the American Constitution Society, and the Office of the Cook County Public Defender hosted the forum, Investigating and Reporting on Complaints against Chicago Police Officers, concerning the work of the Independent Police Review Authority (IPRA). The forum featured Ilana Rosenzweig,… Continue Reading
At the Justice Through Efficiency forum on Monday, criminal justice innovators shared lessons about managing a crowded urban justice system. The forum was particularly timely, as Cook County looks for ways to reduce its jail population safely and cost-effectively. You can read the complete bios of panelists in this program. Below are some of the… Continue Reading
Chicago, IL, May 1, 2013 — In courtrooms across Cook County, a Chicago Appleseed investigation has confirmed, defendants are being denied a public defense solely because they have posted bond to get out of jail. The denials come without a constitutionally required hearing on the defendant’s finances. In some cases, indigent defendants who post bond… Continue Reading
The April 26th “Change of Subject” column column by Chicago Tribune op-ed columnist Eric Zorn discusses the drop in the number of defendants released on electronic home monitoring which is contributing to the critical problem of jail overcrowding in Cook County. The current population of Cook County Jail is approximately 10,000—just 200 under capacity—and that… Continue Reading
Today may prove to be one of the more significant dates in recent criminal justice policy history. The White House, through the Office of National Drug Control Policy, has released its National Drug Control Strategy for 2013 and in it rejects the “law enforcement-only policy of the ‘war on drugs.’” The Obama administration has never… Continue Reading
Chicago Appleseed is excited to announce a new addition to our team. Ali Abid joins Chicago Appleseed as a Criminal Justice Fellow. He will research and develop systemic reform within Cook County. Ali is a graduate of the John Marshall Law School where he was an editor of the John Marshall Law Review. Prior to… Continue Reading
Chicago Appleseed, with pro bono assistance from attorneys at Skadden Arps, has been evaluating recent changes to the parentage court. We’ve met with practitioners, court-personnel and legal aid attorneys familiar with the parentage court before and after it moved into the Daley Center, as well as before and after it expanded to include additional courtrooms… Continue Reading
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle Invites You to Attend a Panel-discussion Forum Hosted by the Cook County Justice Advisory Council Efficiency is one of the cornerstones of justice. Efficient administration of justice promotes a speedy trial and all of its attendant benefits. While that constitutional right to a speedy trial should be reason enough… Continue Reading