Judicial Discretion in Cook County’s Problem-Solving Courts

Cook County’s problem-solving courts (PSCs) are specialized diversion courts that work with accused people whose mental health conditions and/or substance usage may have contributed to their arrests. The PSCs include Drug Treatment Courts, Veterans Treatment Courts, and Mental Health Courts; in othe...

Looking Forward to the End of Chicago’s Contract with ShotSpotter

The City of Chicago’s contract with ShotSpotter, which was set to expire in August, was recently quietly extended by Mayor Lori Lightfoot to February of next year—while Chicago’s new Mayor-Elect Brandon Johnson was campaigning in the fall. This maneuver is disappointing in terms of exhibiting the ci...

Support for SB 1478: Right to Counsel for Youth in Foster Care

Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts supports SB 1478, a bill sponsored by Illinois State Senator Gillespie and Representative Collins that amends the Juvenile Court Act to establish a statutory right to counsel for youth in DCFS care. Illinois is one of only 7 states that does not guarantee...