The Long Wait Archives

Appellate court throws out ‘excessive sentence’ for Chicago man denied parole over 30 times

Ronnie Carrasquillo will be resentenced after 46 years in prison after an appellate court panel ruled he has not been given a ‘meaningful’ opportunity for parole by the state’s Prisoner Review Board. The ruling follows a 2017 Injustice Watch series, “The Long Wait,” which examined the board’s opaque process.

by Grace Asiegbu September 21, 2023January 30, 2024

The Long Wait

Appellate court denies new trial for Chicago man convicted months after judge accepted a bribe in mob case

The appellate court panel ruled there was no connection between the judge’s acquittal of a mob hitman and Ronnie Carrasquillo’s murder trial. The court did grant Carrasquillo a chance to develop other claims that his 200 to 600-year sentence is unconstitutional.

by Emily Hoerner April 8, 2020December 5, 2023

The Long Wait

Appeals court hears claim judge harshly treated murder defendant to hide his own corruption

Attorneys for a Chicago man convicted of a 1976 police killing argued before a packed Illinois appellate courtroom Thursday that the prisoner was found guilty and given a sentence of several hundred years by a judge trying to conceal his own corruption.

by Emily Hoerner November 21, 2019December 5, 2023

The Long Wait

Attorneys: Cook County judge’s corruption polluted his handling of murder case

In 1977, a judge convicted an 18-year old of murder and sentenced him to 200-to-600 years in prison. Forty years later, the prisoners’ attorneys contend the trial and sentencing were an improper effort by a corrupt judge to dilute public criticism.

by Emily Hoerner and Jeanne Kuang November 29, 2017December 5, 2023

The Long Wait

For sixth time, Illinois board rejects parole for man convicted of 1976 murders

Larry Kurina was once paroled for the double murder he committed in 1976, while a minor. But since his parole was violated in 1976 following an arrest for possessing stolen tools, the Illinois Prison Review Board has denied Kurina a second chance. Thursday the outcome was no different.

by Emily Hoerner and Jeanne Kuang November 16, 2017December 5, 2023

The Long Wait

New bill would offer chance at parole for youthful offenders

The Illinois House of Representatives is considering a bill that would give young offenders the opportunity for parole. Despite earlier hopes of advocates, the bill would give the decision to the Prisoner Review Board, an agency whose decisions, an Injustice Watch review found, are often inconsistent and arbitrary.

by Emily Hoerner and Jeanne Kuang October 5, 2017December 5, 2023

The Long Wait

With little hope left of parole, inmates look to the courts for release

After all but giving up hope of release by the agency tasked with considering their parole, two inmates are searching for other ways out of prison.

by Emily Hoerner and Jeanne Kuang October 2, 2017January 30, 2024

The Long Wait

No more chances: An inmate’s plea for another shot

In 1993, Larry Kurina was paroled by the Illinois Prisoner Review Board after serving roughly 17 years for murder. After pleading guilty to a low-level felony in 2005, he has been back in custody since.

by Emily Hoerner and Jeanne Kuang October 2, 2017January 30, 2024

The Long Wait

Aging prisoners left to arbitrary process to win release

A state board uses an arbitrary and opaque process to decide whether prisoners convicted of committing violent crimes decades ago should be released, an Injustice Watch review has found. The process is wracked by subjectivity, and that problem is not confined to Illinois.

by Emily Hoerner and Jeanne Kuang October 2, 2017February 1, 2024

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