Shadow Prosecutors
When local prosecutors might have political or personal ties to a defendant, the state brings in an elite squad of government attorneys: the Illinois Special Prosecution Unit. They are supposed to be lawyers beyond reproach. Instead, the unit has been clouded by allegations of corruption, misconduct, and conflicts of interest.
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Illinois’ Special Prosecution Unit has been responsible for dozens of questionable cases, while acting outside of public view and with little oversight.
Prosecutorial Misconduct
How the Special Prosecution Unit shattered a small-town civic leader’s life
Political Entanglements
Special prosecutors have strong political ties and practically no public oversight
Conflicts of interest
Special prosecutors have protected powerful defendants and derailed justice for crime victims
EXPLAINER: What is a special prosecutor and how are they appointed? →
More from Shadow Prosecutors
The whistleblowers vs. the shadow prosecutors
A new trove of documents independently confirmed by Injustice Watch allege previously unreported misconduct and conflicts of interest by Illinois’ Special Prosecution Unit.
What is a special prosecutor and how are they appointed?
Special prosecutors are called in when the local state’s attorney has a conflict of some kind. Here’s how the process works.
Project Contributors
Reporting by David Jackson
Photography by Taylor Glascock
Illustrations by Verónica Martinez
Editing by Jonah Newman, Robin Amer
Visualizations by Maggie Sivit