Despite its celebrated record of exonerating more people than any comparable unit nationwide, an Injustice Watch investigation found 21 people who were denied relief by the group before flawed evidence later led to their exonerations.
About Injustice Watch
Chicago Police Made Nearly 200,000 Secret Traffic Stops Last Year
Chicago police are required by law to document every time they pull someone over. But our new investigation with Bolts reveals the department is releasing vastly incomplete data to oversight agencies, even as the superintendent pledges reforms.
Chicago police are required by law to document every time they pull someone over. But our new investigation with Bolts reveals the department is releasing vastly incomplete data to oversight agencies, even as the superintendent pledges reforms.
Rising Rents, Unlivable Apartments Leave Tenants Desperate, Confused, and Often Helpless
An Injustice Watch investigation found thousands of lower-income renters in Chicago are trapped in unsafe buildings, forced to pay rising rents, even as many landlords are allowed to shirk their responsibilities to keep buildings safe, warm, and free of rats.
An Injustice Watch investigation found thousands of lower-income renters in Chicago are trapped in unsafe buildings, forced to pay rising rents, even as many landlords are allowed to shirk their responsibilities to keep buildings safe, warm, and free of rats.
Your Child Was Arrested in Chicago. What Happens Next?
We spoke with legal experts to understand what happens when a child is arrested and what protections are in place for children in the juvenile justice system.
We spoke with legal experts to understand what happens when a child is arrested and what protections are in place for children in the juvenile justice system.
For Kids Arrested in Chicago, the City Has Little to Offer
While youth arrests are way down, Chicago has failed to fix its long-broken approach to providing support for kids who get arrested, lagging far behind mayoral promises and serving only a fraction of kids who might need help.
While youth arrests are way down, Chicago has failed to fix its long-broken approach to providing support for kids who get arrested, lagging far behind mayoral promises and serving only a fraction of kids who might need help.
5 Takeaways from Our Investigation Into Youth Justice in Chicago
We found Chicago’s $10 million Youth Intervention Pathways program has enrolled a small fraction of kids arrested and relied on nonprofit contractors with past controversies.
We found Chicago’s $10 million Youth Intervention Pathways program has enrolled a small fraction of kids arrested and relied on nonprofit contractors with past controversies.
Life in Legal Limbo: Navigating Chicago’s Immigration Court Alone
Fighting for a chance to stay, many immigrants wade alone through backlogs and attorney shortages that plague the immigration court system.
Fighting for a chance to stay, many immigrants wade alone through backlogs and attorney shortages that plague the immigration court system.
Older Black Americans Are at Higher Risk for Financial Exploitation
Advocates and experts say there are a number of reasons Black Americans are targeted more for financial scams, including higher rates of Alzheimer’s disease, disparities in wealth and financial literacy, and lack of police response.
Advocates and experts say there are a number of reasons Black Americans are targeted more for financial scams, including higher rates of Alzheimer’s disease, disparities in wealth and financial literacy, and lack of police response.
Her Crime Was Driving Without a License; A Judge Forced Her to Choose Between Months in Jail or a Year of Alcohol Monitoring
Anastasia Strauther still doesn’t understand why Cook County Judge Gregory Vazquez ordered her to wear a sobriety monitor for a driving on a suspended license case.
Anastasia Strauther still doesn’t understand why Cook County Judge Gregory Vazquez ordered her to wear a sobriety monitor for a driving on a suspended license case.
Asylum-Seekers in State-Funded Apartment in Chicago Face Rats and Flooding
Illinois officials placed a family of recent arrivals from Venezuela in a Woodlawn apartment building city officials took to court over unsafe conditions amid a monthslong feud between tenants and the landlord.
Illinois officials placed a family of recent arrivals from Venezuela in a Woodlawn apartment building city officials took to court over unsafe conditions amid a monthslong feud between tenants and the landlord.
Illinois Judge Closes Juvenile Detention Center After ‘Facility in Crisis’ Fails to Meet New State Standards
The Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center abruptly closed on Dec. 31. The judge who ordered the closure said staffing shortages made it difficult to meet state standards for caring for youth in custody.
The Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center abruptly closed on Dec. 31. The judge who ordered the closure said staffing shortages made it difficult to meet state standards for caring for youth in custody.
Ronnie Carrasquillo Is Adjusting to Freedom After Nearly Half a Century in Illinois Prisons
Carrasquillo came home in October after an appellate court ruled his 200-to-600-year sentence was excessive, and his numerous applications for parole were unfairly denied. Now, Carrasquillo is enjoying his family, learning technology, and speaking out about his case.
Carrasquillo came home in October after an appellate court ruled his 200-to-600-year sentence was excessive, and his numerous applications for parole were unfairly denied. Now, Carrasquillo is enjoying his family, learning technology, and speaking out about his case.
Most Juvenile Detention Centers in Illinois Are Failing to Meet State Standards
Audit reports show juvenile detention centers across the state are overusing room confinement and providing insufficient mental health services to youths in custody, among other issues.
Audit reports show juvenile detention centers across the state are overusing room confinement and providing insufficient mental health services to youths in custody, among other issues.
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.
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.
Probate Court Cases Illustrate Illinois’ Broken Adult Protection System
In a letter to a social service agency, the Cook County Public Guardian criticized a lack of state intervention in several instances in which older adults with disabilities were being defrauded.
In a letter to a social service agency, the Cook County Public Guardian criticized a lack of state intervention in several instances in which older adults with disabilities were being defrauded.
Cook County Juvenile Jail Using ‘Semantics’ to Hide Many Hours Youths Are Isolated: Report
Most youths at the jail ‘are locked in their cells for most of the day, every day,’ possibly resulting in long-term damage to their mental health, according to a committee convened last year by Chief Judge Tim Evans.
Most youths at the jail ‘are locked in their cells for most of the day, every day,’ possibly resulting in long-term damage to their mental health, according to a committee convened last year by Chief Judge Tim Evans.