Community Autonomy Archives - Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts

New Report Uses Court-Watching to Evaluate the Implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act

The Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice (INPJ) has released “Changing Landscapes: Community Court-Watchers’ Observations of the Second Year of Pretrial Fairness Act Implementation,” a new report detailing community efforts to monitor implementation of the Pretrial Fairness Act in its second year....

Why do we need court-watchers in Illinois? The answer lies in our open records laws.

Community court-watching is exactly what it sounds like: members of the public taking time out of their days to watch court proceedings. But why? In Chicago Appleseed’s Court Observation & Education Program (COEP), we see court-watching not only as an informative experience for volunteers but...

NEW: Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago Students’ Reports on the Criminal System, Immigration, and Healthcare in Jails & Prisons — Available Now!

Chicago Appleseed is thrilled to announce that the Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago (FJLOC) students' reports on the criminal system, immigration, and healthcare in prisons are available now! Focus on Parole Focus on Reentry and Rehabilitation The Role of the Prosecutor in Bringing About...

Common Law Privilege Barring Civil Arrests at Courthouses Reaffirmed by General Order in Cook County & Steps for Statewide Expansion

Chief Judge Evans has issued a General Administrative Order (GAO), effective today, asserting the common law privilege against civil arrests of people attending court in the Circuit Court of Cook County. The order states that no one attending court, as a witness or otherwise, "will be subjected...

NEW Court-Watching Report – Evicted in the Dark: Findings & Observations from Cook County Eviction Courts

Chicago Appleseed is excited to announce the publication of Evicted in the Dark: Findings & Observations from Cook County Eviction Courts, our newest court-watching report! The report, completed with support from our partners at the Chicago Foundation for Women, relies on findings from thousa...

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