Dispelling Myths: The Pretrial Fairness Act and Domestic Violence

In January 2021, the Illinois General Assembly passed a sweeping criminal justice reform package, presented by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, which includes the Pretrial Fairness Act (HB 3653 SFA2). The Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA) abolishes money bail; ensures faster release f...

Clean Slate Subcommittee for Child Support

Chicago Appleseed is proud to participate in the Clean Slate Subcommittee for the Child Support Advisory Committee to HFS and the courts in Illinois. Clean Slate is a program intended to help parents with child support debt clear the money owed to the state and end their cycle of debt. The subcommit...

The Domestic Relations Hearing Officer Program is Helping Families

The good reputation of the hearing officer program in domestic relations is growing with its reach in the branch courts. In the branch courts, hearing officers are completing—on average—four divorces a day and hearing over 30 cases (divorce, parentage, IV-D and non-IV-D, parenting time and support i...