The Costly Toll of Dead-end Drug Arrests, published in December, examined how thousands of Chicagoans — mostly Black men — are arrested on drug possession charges judges, police and prosecutors all know will never stick.
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Posted inAction, Analysis, Policy
BGA Policy Survey: Tell Us About Your Election 2020 Voting Experience
New Department of Assets, Information and Services reduced spending growth by $1.8 million per year post-merger, exceeding $1 million savings target.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, PolitiFact
Fact-Check: Is Illinois ‘Nation-Leading’ in Funding Census Outreach?
Gov. Pritzker on Twitter said Illinois led other states in its 2020 Census effort. It ranks third in per-capita spending.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Amazon’s Massive Chicago-Area Expansion Fueled by $741 Million From Taxpayers
As part of a nationwide effort, the online retail giant has commissioned 36 warehouses in the Chicago area since 2015, creating thousands of jobs. Most of the taxpayer assistance comes from Black communities.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
A Veteran Cook County Judge Has Been Repeatedly Blocked from Hearing Sex Offense Cases. Here’s Why.
An unprecedented investigation of court data finds systematic effort to keep Judge James Linn from deciding sex charges after a controversial ruling he made years ago.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Un Juez Veterano del Condado de Cook ha Sido Bloqueado Repetidamente para Que No Trate Casos de Delitos Sexuales. Esta es la Razón.
Una investigación sin precedentes de los datos judiciales comprueba un esfuerzo sistemático para evitar que el juez James Linn decida sobre casos de sexo después de un controvertido fallo que dictó hace años.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation, Newsroom
About The Circuit
The Circuit is an unparalleled collaborative journalism investigation that explores and exposes decades of overlooked data and their connecting patterns buried in the files of the Cook County Courts.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Meet the Cook County Judge Defense Attorneys Least Want to Appear Before
Judge Diane Gordon Cannon criticized for verbal outbursts, a pro-prosecution bent and jailing of probationers for sometimes-minor infractions.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Conoce a La Juez del Condado de Cook Ante Quien los Abogados Defensores Menos Quieren Comparecer
La jueza Diane Gordon Cannon es criticada por sus arrebatos verbales, su inclinación a favor de la fiscalía, y por encarcelar a personas en libertad condicional por infracciones que a veces son menores.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
Vote with Confidence, in Person or by Mail. But Vote.
Running a safe and secure election isn’t easy during a pandemic. State and local election officials throughout Illinois are rising to the challenge.