Shannon Heffernan (WBEZ), Author at Injustice Watch

Illustration of a prisoner in an orange jumpsuit lying in a hospital bed. Shadows of bars and bars on the windows indicate that they are in prison.

Dying and disabled Illinois prisoners kept behind bars, despite new medical release law

The Joe Coleman Medical Release Act was expected to have freed hundreds of terminally ill and medically incapacitated prisoners in Illinois by now. But only a few dozen have been released, an investigation from Injustice Watch and WBEZ reveals.

by Carlos Ballesteros, Shannon Heffernan (WBEZ) and Amy Qin (WBEZ) August 30, 2023November 14, 2024

Criminal Courts

Cook County has been giving felony records to people who should not have them

For at least three years, a data error has caused chaos in the lives of people who were promised a clean record if they did probation.

by Shannon Heffernan (WBEZ) May 17, 2023January 8, 2024

Illinois Prisons

The way prisoners flag guard abuse, inadequate health care and unsanitary conditions is broken

Prisoners rely on grievances as an early-warning system for dangerous conditions, from poor medical care to abuse. But in Illinois, experts say the system is sputtering, with little oversight, resulting in injuries to prisoners, according to an investigation by WBEZ and ProPublica.

by Shannon Heffernan (WBEZ) December 3, 2020December 5, 2023

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