Latest News - Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts

New Report – Piecing It All Together: An Analysis of the Available Data for the FTWOP

The First Time Weapon Offense Program (FTWOP) has existed and been reformed over the course of approximately eight years in the state of Illinois. In this new report, Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts (Chicago Appleseed) and the Better Government Association (BGA) seek to better understand ho...

What is the Gun Accountability Program?

The Gun Accountability Program (GAP) is a newly implemented diversion program that provides a deferred prosecution pathway for individuals charged with Class 4 Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (UPW) or Class 4 Aggravated Unlawful Possession of a Weapon (AUPW). Participation is limited to individuals...

2026 Fall Fundraiser!

On November 12, we invite you to join our Fall Fundraiser to kick off our 30th Anniversary of fighting for fair courts! Chicago Appleseed continues to make a powerful impact on the lives of people who show up to court every day – people who are just trying to stay housed, keep their families togethe...

Leadership Transition Update

From Rachel Lyons, Executive Director at Chicago Appleseed: To the Chicago Appleseed community, I am leaving my position as executive director as of November 3, 2026. Even though I have been with the organization for less than a year, I am proud of our work together and the incredible peop...

2026 Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago Student Reports: Available Now!

The Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago is proud to present the 2026 Cohorts' research reports spanning from research on immigration inequalities to tax inequality. Undergraduate Research Chicago Public School Security [PDF] Environmental Injustice and Data Centers [PDF] Reimagining the I...