Josh was a reporter at Injustice Watch from 2020-2022, where he covered courts, policing and public defense, with an emphasis on data. Josh grew up in Tinley Park, attended Providence Catholic High School, and Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri.
As Chicago police have made more gun arrests, prosecutors are taking nearly all cases through the secretive grand jury process, where indictments are close to a sure thing.
At an event hosted by Injustice Watch and the Chicago Reader, experts discussed challenges that survivors face in domestic violence court, especially amid the “chaos” of the Covid-19 pandemic, and changes needed following former top Judge Raúl Vega’s departure.
The Illinois Code of Judicial Conduct hasn’t been overhauled since 1993. The proposed changes include guidelines on how judges can use social media and other technology, which didn’t exist when it was last updated.
We broke down the data on specific charges and asked experts to explain why racial disparities are increasing in Cook County criminal court.
The office applied for an $800,000 federal grant to add clinicians and case workers to its small mental health unit.
Former prosecutors dominate the roster of 22 new associate judges, who were selected last week by the county’s circuit judges.
How many cops have gotten their vaccine shots? The question has a definite answer. But no one in Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office or the police department seems able to put a number on it.
The subcircuit seat has been vacant since Dec. 7, after Judge Jackie Portman-Brown lost her retention bid.
Illinois is one of just seven states with no statewide oversight of public defenders. A new bill passed by the Illinois General Assembly would create a task force to further study public defender caseloads and quality of representation.
Sharone Mitchell Jr., who took over the public defender’s office in April, hopes to add more attorneys and work with community groups fighting for racial justice and systemic change.