For decades, Illinois courts have written themselves out of the state’s Freedom of Information Act. A new bill could change that and bring much-needed transparency to the court system.
News

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

Bill to limit judges’ ability to order alcohol monitoring heads to governor’s desk
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The measure follows an Injustice Watch investigation into abuses of the ankle bracelet program known as SCRAM.
Cam Systems

SCRAM devices come under fire from Cook County board
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Following Injustice Watch’s reporting, county commissioners held a hearing into the company that has billed more than $3 million to defendants ordered to wear SCRAM alcohol monitors.
Events

6 takeaways from our community conversation about systemic issues in the Cook County courts
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Injustice Watch convened a community conversation about systemic inequities in the Cook County courts and possible solutions last month, as part of The Circuit, our ongoing collaborative investigation into two decades of Cook County court data.
Judicial Elections

Evans elected to record 8th term as Cook County chief judge
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Judge Timothy Evans was unopposed in his bid to remain Cook County’s top judge, a post he has held for 21 years.
News

Lack of statewide pretrial data is an impediment to reforms, advocates say
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Advocates for domestic violence survivors say data is essential to debunk misinformation about the Pretrial Fairness Act. But a state board created to collect that data delayed its collection until next year.
News

SCRAM vendor continues to operate despite lapsed contract with Cook County
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With no oversight from county officials or direction from the chief judge, a private contractor continues to profit from court-ordered alcohol monitors.
News

Did pandemic relief avert an eviction crisis in Chicago? The full picture remains murky.
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A court order filed this week will grant Injustice Watch access to previously unavailable eviction data during the pandemic.