Illinois Justice Project News Summary

July 30 -- August 5, 2019

RE-ENTRY HOUSING
EDITOR'S NOTE: The Illinois Justice Project and the Metropolitan Planning Council completed an in-depth, three-year examination of how to find stable living conditions for the tens of thousands of individuals who depart state prisons and jails each year. On our website now — Re-Entry Housing Issues in Illinois: The Current Situation, Challenges, and Possible Solutions

Crain's Chicago Business column by Greg Hinz: "How do you get a job if you have no place to live?" . . . "Nearly all of the 28,000 inmates released by the Illinois Department of Corrections each year have to find housing on their own, a main reason why many of them soon get in trouble again, costing the state at least $100 million a year."

WBEZ, Chicago Public Radio, by Patrick Smith: "Report: Stable Housing For Former Prisoners Could Save Illinois $100 Million Per Year" . . . "Paula Wolff, policy adviser for the Illinois Justice Project, said the state has overlooked the important role housing plays in people being sent back to prison. 'State government actually has the capacity to address this issue. But for years has not thought about how to assist through its own agencies in reducing the recidivism rate in Illinois,' Wolff said. 'If we can get the [state agencies] to cooperate and support successful reentry, we can dramatically reduce the number of people who recidivate, and also reduce the spending in the Department of Corrections and the entire justice system.'"

Chicago Sun-Times: "Report: New housing policies could keep ex-cons from ending up back in prison, save state millions" . . ."The report by the Metropolitan Planning Council and the Illinois Justice Project, offers more than a dozen policy proposals that can help government officials reduce recidivism while saving the state more than $100 million annually."

Curbed Chicago: "Inclusive housing policies for exiting prisoners will ‘stabilize neighborhoods,’ report says"

The Appeal: "In Chicago, rethinking the link between crime and incarceration" 

GUNS
Chicago Sun-Times editorial: "It’s about the guns" . . . "Had the United States, like almost every other civilized country, long ago banned the general sale and ownership of assault weapons, 20 men, women and children in El Paso, Texas, still would be alive today."

Chicago Tribune editorial: "For El Paso, Dayton and the nation: Close the gun law loophole" . . . "In February, the Democratic-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill that would require a background check for all firearms purchases. The Republican-led Senate balked. Time for hearts and minds in that deliberative body to change."

Chicago Tribune editorial: "Hours of madness in America, from Texas to Ohio to Chicago too" . . . "Our belief is that there are steps Congress can take to reduce the opportunities for armed villains to kill. They include universal background checks and limits on magazine capacity."

Chicago Tribune: "As summer violence rages on, a Chicago gang member’s jail recordings offer a rare look at the city’s entrenched gun culture"

Shadowproof by Kevin Gosztola: "Invoking massacres in Dayton and El Paso, Chicago Police Chief spreads disinformation about bail reform" 

Capitol News Illinois: "Pritzker calls for federal action to address gun violence"

Sen. Dick Durbin news release: "Durbin Reintroduces Bipartisan Legislation To Combat Illegal Straw Purchasing And Firearms Trafficking"

WMAQ-TV, Chicago5: "Pritzker 'Thankful' No Illinois Mass Shootings, Ignoring 2"


CHICAGO VIOLENCE
Chicago Tribune: "The same weekend as massacres in El Paso and Dayton, 15 people were shot in 2 Chicago incidents. Why aren’t those called mass shootings too?"

Chicago Sun-Times by Maudlyne Ihejirika: "City targets drug abuse to help stop violence in West Garfield Park" . . . "This week, the neighborhood in the beleaguered Harrison (11th) Police District that includes West Garfield Park, Humboldt Park, North Lawndale and East Garfield Park saw an unusual influx of city support. Extra police. City services. Drug addiction help. All were part of the city’s new Keeping Our Communities Safe Initiative that launched Sunday on the West Side in a neighborhood desperately in need."

WBEZ, Chicago Public Radio: "Anti-Violence Leader Wants Justice For Two South Side Moms Shot Dead" . . . "The two women who were killed were Chantell Grant, 26, and Andrea Stoudemire, 35. Both volunteered with MASK, and they were both mothers. Morning Shift talks to the founder of MASK on how the group is seeking justice for the two women killed, their families and their neighborhood."

Chicago Sun-Times: "Murders, shootings at four-year low through end of July: police"

Center for Illinois Politics: "We’ve got the rap of being one of the most violent cities in the nation. Here’s a detailed look at why, and our best way out."

Chicago Tribune: "The struggle to save Chicago from gun violence, one vigil at a time"

Chicago Sun-Times commentary by CPD Supt. Eddie Johnson: "Chicago is getting safer, though much more work remains to be done" . . . "Since Mayor Lori Lightfoot took office, we’ve retooled our approach to crime-fighting around collaboration and flooding the zone — a strategy adopted throughout every city agency that centers around addressing the root causes of violence. We’ve identified the top beats in the city that drive violence and made societal investments, including street outreach and youth intervention, because we recognize the fact that this is a challenge that we can’t arrest our way out of."

Chicago Sun-Times: "Johnson deploys more cops after shootings leave 1 dead, 16 wounded in just over 2 hours in North Lawndale"

Chicago Tribune: "Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says President Donald Trump has blown ‘every racist, xenophobic dog whistle,’ pledges support for West Side"

Chicago Tribune column by Kristen McQueary: " Now in charge, Pritzker, Lightfoot on the hot seat for Chicago violence" . . . "Without getting to the root causes of violence — poverty, abuse, family breakdowns, addiction, lack of personal responsibility and illegal use of guns — Chicago will continue to be a city thrashing. Lightfoot can’t snap her fingers and solve it. But enough has been studied to point her in the right direction. She needs Pritzker’s help. The state still has more heft to drive existing resources to some of these communities than the city can alone."


CHICAGO GUN OFFENDER DASHBOARD
Chicago Sun-Times: "Police unveil website tracking gun offender bond information" . . . Seeking to highlight and eventually change a criminal justice system it contends makes it too easy for some gun offenders to return to the street, the Chicago Police Department on Monday unveiled a publicly accessible database that tracks the bond amount that judges issue for such crimes. The 'Gun Offenders Dashboard' also tracks whether those accused of the weapon offense were able to come up with the cash and go free.

Chicago Tribune: "Chicago police unveil ‘Gun Offender Dashboard’ as department ratchets up criticism of courts" . . . "The site provides the public with what Johnson called a 'transparent snapshot' of people arrested on gun crimes in the city, the specific gun charge and if they posted a full cash bail, 10 percent of that amount or were released without posting any money."


CHICAGO POLICE 
Chicago Office of Inspector General news release: "OIG public safety section finds the Chicago Police Department has not complied with requirements for body-worn camera random reviews"
 
Chicago Tribune by Megan Crepeau: "Court decision rebuffs common tool used by Chicago police in many arrests for shootings" . . . "Chicago police have stopped issuing certain investigative alerts in the wake of a court decision even though the department has long relied on the method to approve many arrests for homicides and shootings. The alerts allowed officers to avoid having to go before a judge to obtain an arrest warrant, but an Illinois Appellate Court found the practice violated the state constitution for that very reason."

WBEZ, Chicago Public Radio: "CPD Sgt. John Poulos Cleared In Killing Of Kajuan Raye"

WBEZ, Chicago Public Radio, by Patrick Smith: "Study: Police Can Transmit Abusive Behavior To Other Officers" . . . "Police officers who work with colleagues who have racked up excessive force complaints are more likely to use excessive force themselves, according to a study released Thursday that’s based on a review of citizen complaints against Chicago police officers. The study, Network exposure and excessive use of force being published in Criminology and Public Policy, suggests that problem officers can transmit bad behaviors to other cops, and that departments might be able to reduce excessive force incidents by keeping such officers away from colleagues, particularly young and inexperienced officers."

Chicago Sun-Times: "Chicago police release audio of weekend’s most violent shooting"

WMAQ-TV, NBC5: "Chicago Cop Accidentally Shoots Own Finger While Cleaning Gun at South Side Station"


DR. CARL C. BELL
Chicago Sun-Times: "Dr. Carl C. Bell, South Side psychiatrist who spent career serving African American community, dies at 71" . . . "Dr. Carl Bell, a distinguished South Side psychiatrist who dedicated much of his work to helping the African American community and issues of violence, died early Friday at age 71. The National Institute of researcher spent most of his career confronting the impact of violence-related trauma on child development. Bell also worked on violence prevention, criminal and juvenile justice reforms and prevention."

WTTW, Chicago Tonight: "Psychiatrist Dr. Carl Bell Dead at 71" . . . "Bell appeared on “Chicago Tonight” last month to discuss a new analysis of Chicago homicide data by the Erikson Institute, which underscored the effect violent crime can have on young children. When asked why he’s remained optimistic on the topic, he told Carol Marin: 'Because I’ve seen progress. It’s like you’re on a 100-mile football field, but as long as you keep getting first down, sooner or later you’re going to win.'"


COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY
The People’s Lobby, Appleseed Fund for Justice and Reclaim Chicago: "During Kim Foxx’s Second Year in Office Sentences of Incarceration Decline Sharply, with No Decrease in Public Safety "

WGN-TV: "Incarceration rates drop 19% under Kim Foxx, report says"

Chicago Sun-Times: "Kim Foxx backers say state’s attorney is on the right track"

Chicago Reporter column by Curtis Black: "Report: Kim Foxx reforms show reducing incarceration does not compromise public safety"

Los Angeles Times: "Once tough-on-crime prosecutors now push progressive reforms" . . . "Kim Foxx, who was elected in 2016 to be the state’s attorney for Cook County, which includes Chicago, says she has worked hard to reduce the number of low-level, nonviolent offenders held on cash bail or sent to prison. Her policies, she says, have helped reduce by about 4,000 the total number of people incarcerated and held in jail pending trials."


JUSSIE SMOLLETT
Chicago Sun-Times: "Judge won’t let Jussie Smollett intervene in special prosecutor case"


COOK COUNTY JAIL
Associated Press: "Cook County Jail hosts international chess tournament"

WMAQ, NBC5 Chicago: "Cook County Jail Implements New Gardening Glass"


ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
KWMU, St. Louis Public Radio: "Lawsuit Alleges Illinois Prison Policies Jeopardize Health Of Transgender Inmates" . . . "Current policies fail to provide adequate health care to prisoners diagnosed with gender dysphoria, according to opening arguments made Wednesday by the ACLU in a federal court in East St. Louis. Illinois Department of Correction practices deny and delay medically necessary treatment for years, leading to 'profound suffering' and increasing the risks of self-harm and suicide for transgender prisoners, the ACLU’s motion argues."

Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette editorial: "The books are back" . . . "Nonetheless, prison officials admitted they mishandled the issue over the missing books. Now it seems clear they are taking a new approach that eliminates unwise and arbitrary decisions. That’s good for the inmates enrolled in this college-in-prison program and no harm to the employees who work there."

NPR Illinois by Maureen Foertsch McKinney: "Inmate's Complaint Leads To End Of Breastfeedling Prohibition In Prisons"


JUVENILE JUSTICE
Juvenile Justice Information Exchange: "‘Justice by Geography’ Can Be Curbed Via Financial Incentives to Keep Youth Closer to Home" . . . "Similarly, Redeploy Illinois provides an incentive for participating counties and courts to reduce the number of youth committed to the state system and imposes penalties on sites that fail to meet population reduction targets."


RESTORE, RENEW AND REINVEST - R3
Chicago Community Trust by Anna Lee and Sharone Mitchell Jr.: "How Illinois Cannabis Laws Aim to Reduce Violence and Restore Communities"


LEGISLATION
NPR Illinois: "New Law Aims To Open More Health Jobs To People With Criminal Records"

Daily Herald: "Will pot sales fuel prevention funding? Advocates fear not"


DEATH PENALTY
Sen. Dick Durbin news release: "Durbin, Leahy, Booker Introduce Legislation To Ban The Death Penalty"

Chicago Tribune commentary by Susanne Dumbleton: "Federal executions are resuming. Will state death penalty bans hold up?"


AROUND THE STATE
Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette: "Legally Speaking: Heidi Hewkin" . . . "For close to 20 years, HEIDI HEWKIN has tried to put her sociology degree to work helping young offenders in Champaign County get on the straight-and-narrow path. As the juvenile probation officer who makes sentencing recommendations to the judges, her opinion holds great weight. This week on staff writer Mary Schenk's podcast, 'Legally Speaking,' Hewkin shares insight into the work of the juvenile probation officers."

Chicago Sun-Times: "Local artists take on the criminal justice system in new exhibit" . . . "The exhibit, which will run from Aug. 6 to Oct. 12, takes a creative approach to discussing the country’s criminal justice system. The project brings together artists from all over Chicago to approach the topic of mass incarceration from a new perspective, said Gabrielle Lyon, executive director of Illinois Humanities, the nonprofit putting on the show."

Peoria Journal Star: "Jodi Hoos speaks: Why’s she hanging up the judge’s robe to go back to trying cases?" . . . "When Peoria County Board Chairman Andrew Rand announced Monday morning that his choice to replace Jerry Brady as the county’s top prosecutor is Jodi Hoos, who now is a civil court judge, some might have wondered why. After all, Hoos, 44, had worked at the State’s Attorney’s Office for 14 years, starting there out of law school in 2000, until she was appointed to the bench in late 2014."

St. Louis Post-Dispatch: "Granite City threatens family with eviction after house guest burglarizes tavern"

Illinois Newsroom: "Federal Lawsuit Claims Granite City’s Crime-Free Housing Rules Are Unconstitutional"