Illinois Justice Project News Summary

Jan. 7 -- 13, 2020

PRITZKER-STRATTON CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM AGENDA
Illinois Governor's Office news release: "Gov. Pritzker, Lt. Gov. Stratton Announce Key Criminal Justice Reform Priorities" . . . "The Governor and Lieutenant Governor spoke about the need to end the cash bail system, reform low-level drug crime sentences while focusing on substance abuse treatment programs, and reduce excessive prison sentences with good time credit and increased opportunities for supervised release."

WCBU, Bloomington and Peoria public radio: "Pritzker Wants to End Cash Bonds, Mandatory Minimum Prison Sentences"

Capitol News Illinois: "Pritzker puts criminal justice reforms atop 2020 agenda" . . . "'Criminal justice reform is one of the major planks of our administration, something that we talked about for two years on the campaign trail and we’ve already made strides in our first year,' Pritzker said. 'Going forward, we have a lot to do with criminal justice reform.' He said top priorities include eliminating cash bail and reducing mandatory minimum sentences, 'giving judges more discretion to take into account circumstances in each case.'"

WREX-TV, Rockford: "Gov. Pritzker wants to end cash bail system" . . . "The money is split between the Circuit Clerk's Office and the Sheriff's Office. Cash bail brings in more than $500,000 annually, a revenue source the county could lose if the state decides to end cash bail."


ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
NPR Illinois: "What Can Illinois' Jails And Prisons Do To Improve The Lives Of The Children Of The Incarcerated?" . . . "State Rep. Delia Ramirez, a Chicago Democrat who is chairwoman of the task force and sponsor of the law creating it, said, 'We understand that there are more than 200,000 children in the state of Illinois whose parents are currently serving in either the Department of Corrections or awaiting sentencing or trial at one of the county jails. And we know there are a number of barriers and challenges for these children as a result of that separation.'"


REDEPLOY ILLINOIS
Mother Jones: "Should Judges Have to Weigh the Price Tag of Sending Someone to Prison?" . . . "In Winnebago County, Illinois, Judge Janet Holmgren argues the Adult Redeploy program actually gives courts more discretion, because it offers them extra money for diversion programs, allowing them to assist more people: 'We’re more willing to accept people with extensive criminal histories that in the past we might have declined because we had limited resources.' Jay Scott, the state’s attorney in Macon County, Illinois, agrees. In the past, he says, with 'so many people that were committing low-level felonies, the only option we had was sending them back to prison. It was a revolving door.'"

WREX-TV, Rockford: "Illinois looks to Winnebago County for guidance on deferred prosecution program" . . . "Illinois wants to expand a program that gives certain offenders a break in the criminal justice system, and it's looking to Winnebago County for guidance. Winnebago County State's Attorney Marilyn Hite Ross spoke in front of the lawmakers in the Public Safety and Judiciary committees Monday in Chicago about the deferred prosecution program."


CHICAGO POLICE
WBEZ by Patrick Smith: "Experts: Physical Evidence Shows Teen Had Gun, But Wasn’t Holding It When Shot By Police"

WBEZ: "After Decades Of Neglect, Internal Survey Shows Progress On Essential CPD Training Program"

WBBM-TV: "Chicago Police To Get Help With Mental Health Crisis Calls"

WTTW by Matt Masterson: "Charlie Beck: Chicago Police Will Become ‘Model for Effectiveness’"


CHICAGO POLICE - LAWSUITS, SETTLEMENTS AND SUSPENSIONS
Chicago Tribune: "Chicago aldermen reject proposed $125,000 lawsuit settlement for Laquan McDonald shooting witness" . . . "Aldermen took the rare step Monday of rejecting a proposed legal settlement, denying a $125,000 payout to a woman who witnessed the fatal shooting of black teen Laquan McDonald by a white Chicago police officer and said authorities afterward belittled her and accused her of lying about what she saw."

WBEZ by Chip Mitchell: "Justices Seem Eager To Trim Jury Award For Whistleblower Who Sought Tougher Police Oversight"

WBEZ: "CPD Tried To Drastically Reduce Suspension For Cop Who Killed Joshua Beal In ‘Racially Tinged Confrontation’"

Chicago Sun-Times: "Officer was suspended 90 days for unregistered gun used in fatal shooting in Mount Greenwood"

Chicago Sun-Times: "$300,000 settlement to settle sexual harassment claim against retired Chicago cop" . . . "Chicago taxpayers will spend $300,000 to compensate a police officer who claims she had sex with a boss who threatened to torpedo her career if she refused his advances."

Chicago Tribune: "Aldermen to consider $300K settlement for Chicago police officer who alleged superior sexually abused her while on duty"

Chicago Sun-Times: "Another $500,000 settlement tied to allegations of police abuse" . . . "Throw another $500,000 on the mountain of costly settlements tied to allegations of Chicago Police abuse. On Monday, the City Council’s Finance Committee will be asked to sign off on the settlement for Andy Jardinas, who claims he was physically abused by Police Officers Rodrigo Corona and Manuel Arroyo after an arrest in November 2016."

Chicago Daily Law Bulletin: "$750K verdict against police upheld" . . . "A man who alleges Chicago police manufactured evidence against him in a murder investigation is a step closer to collecting a $750,000 verdict a jury returned against the lead detectives in the case. In a written opinion Monday, U.S. District Judge Virginia M. Kendall denied the detectives’ motion for judgment as a matter of law on Anthony Tucker’s claim of unlawful pretrial detention."

Chicago Sun-Times: "Judge order CPD to turn over 48 years’ worth of misconduct files" . . . "A Cook County judge is giving the Chicago Police Department until the end of the year to turn over nearly five decades’ worth of previously unreleased files related to allegations of misconduct by officers."


CHICAGO POLICE - SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH
Chicago Sun-Times: "23 applicants for CPD superintendent job: Police Board"


COURTS
Chicago Daily Law Bulletin: "Illinois Supreme Court in 2019: Important cases justices decided"


COURTS -- ST. CLAIR COUNTY JUDGE RONALD DUEBBERT
Belleville News-Democrat: "Commission removes St. Clair County Judge Ron Duebbert from bench for lying to police" . . . "The Illinois Courts Commission has removed St. Clair County Circuit Judge Ronald R. Duebbert from office after concluding he 'demonstrated an utter disregard for the integrity and respect of the judiciary' by lying to police during a murder investigation in 2016 and to Judiciary Board members in subsequent interviews."

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Illinois judicial board removes St. Clair County judge accused of lying to police"

Chicago Daily Law Bulletin: "St. Clair circuit judge removed from bench" . . . "A St. Clair County judge was removed from the bench Friday for misleading police during a murder investigation involving his former roommate."


JUVENILE LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE
Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette column by Jim Dey: "Resentencing a new lease on life for Champaign man" . . . "U.S. Supreme Court opinions are the judicial equivalent of thunderbolts hurled down from Mt. Olympus — fiery missives that can land just about anywhere with significant consequences. Ten days ago, one hit a Champaign County courtroom, where 38-year-old Falanzo Hixson got a new lease on life."


GUN DEALER LICENSING ACT
Capitol News Illinois: "New gun dealer regulations to take effect Friday" . . . "New rules governing how retail gun dealers do business go into effect Friday and include the types of records they must keep, how weapons and ammunition are to be stored and the kinds of video surveillance and security systems they must maintain." . . . "The law is also the target of a lawsuit filed by the Illinois State Rifle Association, as well as several gun shops"


COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY
Crain's Chicago Business by Greg Hinz: "Foxx calls in big legal heat to help with Smollett probe" . . . "The embattled state's attorney retains ex-top judge Ruben Castillo and noted D.C. attorney Michael Bromwich to help her through Dan Webb's probe of how the Jussie Smollett case went down."

Chicago Tribune: "Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx hires outside legal help in Jussie Smollett probe, won’t say how much it’s costing taxpayers"

Chicago Tribune: "Jussie Smollett investigation: Judge orders Google to turn over a full year of the actor’s data as part of special prosecutor probe"

Chicago Sun-Times: "Jussie Smollett special prosecutor seeks access to ‘Empire’ star’s Google accounts"

USA Today commentary by Marilyn J. Mosby and Kimberly Foxx: "There is overwhelming evidence Lamar Johnson didn't commit murder. So why is he still behind bars?"


AROUND THE STATE

Peoria Journal Star: "Peoria officer fired over social media posts gets job back"

Peoria Journal Star: "Jobs Partnership programs at Peoria County Jail transform lives" . . . "For many inmates at the Peoria County Jail, the Jobs Partnership Re-Entry program provides a fresh start on life. For Peorians Tyrone and Mila Brown, it resulted in a total transformation of their lives."

Peoria Journal Star: "Johnnie Lee Savory’s case against Peoria reinstated again" . . . "Johnnie Lee Savory’s claims of “malicious prosecution” 40 years ago in the wake of a double murder will be allowed to proceed after all, a federal appeals court ruled. A 52-page opinion, handed down Tuesday by the Chicago-based 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, reinstates Savory’s lawsuit against the city of Peoria and several former police officers. The decisions mirrors one that occurred last year where a smaller panel of judges held that the case could proceed."

St. Louis Public Radio and Belleville News-Democrat: "Granite City Changes 'Crime-Free' Rules for Renters Amid Complaints And State Law Update"

Aurora Beacon-News: "Uptick in Kane County felony cases called ‘concerning’"

Lake County News-Sun: "‘Where is the truth?’: As protesters question official narrative on police custody death last summer, Waukegan mayor calls for ‘soul searching’"

Decatur Herald & Review: "'We felt the need': Community leaders, lawmakers tour Decatur transitional housing facility" . . . "Community leaders and state lawmakers on Wednesday got a first look at the Decatur Transitional Housing Complex, a facility they said could help veterans, homeless people and those recently released from prison."

Lake County News-Sun: "‘Plan, plan, plan’: Interfaith forum in Waukegan focuses on protecting houses of worship against possible attacks"

Rockford Register Star: "Hundreds pardoned for marijuana in Stephenson, Boone and Ogle counties"