IL: Criminal Justice
IL juvenile justice court alternative proves successful
Anyone age 18 or younger accused of violating Illinois law, who has formal charges filed against them, has historically had their case tried in a …
Digital court hearings cause uneasiness for young offenders
Online conferencing was a lifeline for school lessons and business meetings during the pandemic. However, there is concern about the effects of …
A push to end solitary confinement in IL for young offenders
There is growing concern over what happens to young offenders in Illinois as they await their first court hearing. A report by European juvenile-…
A lack of attorneys creates 'legal deserts' in rural IL counties
Labor shortages exist across the country in the medical and teaching professions but not as much is said about the lack of attorneys in some states…
New IL laws usher in policy changes in health care, employment, policing
At the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, Illinoisans will see more than 300 new laws take effect - with changes that impact the state's …
Summit paints grim picture of IL juvenile detention centers
At a Wednesday summit, advocates for juvenile justice reform took up the most recent slate of complaints about Illinois' juvenile detention centers…
New data: Violent crime is up and also down
By Weihua Li and Jamiles Lartey for The Marshall Project.Broadcast version by Nadia Ramlagan for Illinois News Connection reporting for the Marshall P…
More work needed on juvenile justice reform
Advocates for juvenile justice reform recently gathered in Chicago to find ways to keep young people out of the criminal justice system. Herschella …
Backers hope IL 'no cash bail' makes justice equitable, less expensive
A set of controversial reforms to Illinois' cash bail system went into effect this week, changing a decades-old system of holding people in jail …
Federal Funding Restored to Educate People in Prison
By Max Lubbers for Chalkbeat Chicago.Broadcast version by Terri Dee for Illinois News Service reporting for the Chalkbeat Chicago-Public News Service …
IL Works to Take Youth into Account in Life Sentences
It's only been a few months since Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill ending life sentences without parole for people in Illinois who were under 21 when …
IL Sees Significant Long-Term Decline in Youth Incarcerations
Illinois is seeing a steady drop in youth arrests and therefore, fewer adolescents locked up in juvenile and adult detention facilities. Josh Rovner…