“Bailing Out of a Medieval System”

As Chicago searches for ways to reduce its exploding jail population, it need look no further than neighboring Rockford. Tom  Warkowski, a former Winnebago County Assistant State's Attorney was appointed Jail Population Analyst under a court order by the U.S. District Court of Northern Illinois to r...
March 21, 2013

Policy Brief: Community Courts in Cook County

Today we release a two-part policy brief discussing an alternative prosecution strategy called community-based justice. Part I makes the case for community-base justice by comparing Cook County’s current misdemeanor justice system--which adjudicates over 150,000 misdemeanors annually (pdf)--with com...
February 27, 2013

Policy Brief: Judicial Recusal

Last month, Chicago Appleseed shared a policy brief on judicial recusal standards with the Illinois Supreme Court. The policy brief, written by staff attorney Elizabeth Monkus with assistance from staff intern Sarah Swearer, focuses on the features of meaningful recusal standards and procedures.  Sp...
January 18, 2013

Justice System Advocates Caution Against Cell Phone Ban in Cook County Courts

Last month, the Cook County Circuit Court announced an electronic device ban, effective January 14, 2013, in all Cook County courts except the Daley Center, including the George N. Leighton Criminal Court Building at 26th Street and California Avenue. After discussing the proposed ban with many loca...
January 10, 2013

Forum on the Forgotten Guantanamo Detainees

This program will focus on half of the men still detained in Guantánamo. For at least 3 years, these 86 men have been cleared for release by unanimous agreement of the nation’s top intelligence, national security, law enforcement, and military officials. Yet taxpayers continue to spend $70 million p...
January 8, 2013