Latest News
01.24.08
Candidates divided on minor drug causes
Category: Chicago Appleseed In The News
In one of the clearest dividing lines in the Cook County state's attorney race, the one Republican and six Democratic candidates are sharply divided on whether to allow police officers to give out warnings instead of filing formal charges for possession of drugs in small amounts.
01.22.08
The impending crisis in criminal justice: The costs of neglect
Category: Chicago Appleseed In The News
The judges, prosecutors and defense lawyers in our felony courts are overwhelmed with drug cases. Proposed budget cuts, on top of cuts already made, threaten a complete breakdown. So what? Why should you care? Some things to consider:
01.08.08
New Guide Helps Banks Provide Fair and Efficient Services to Growing International Remittance Market
Category: Press Releases
Appleseed released a first-of-its kind guide to assist banks and other financial institutions in better serving the growing remittance market. Immigrants living in the U.S. sent $45 billion to Mexico and Latin America in 2006, according to recent estimates from the Inter-American Development Bank. In addition to providing a detailed market overview, “Banking in a Global Market” offers a comprehensive hands-on approach to setting up transparent and efficient remittance services, drawing on the experiences of large and small financial institutions throughout the U.S.
12.23.07
Report on Chicago's Felony Courts
Category: Chicago Appleseed In The News
The Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice recently released "A Report on Chicago's Felony Courts." It's a lengthy report at 123 pages - I just skimmed it - and it clearly provides an extensive look at Chicago's felony courts, relying in part on interviews and/or surveys of judges, prosecutors, public defenders, private attorneys, victims, and defendants. (The Chicago Police Department didn't respond to requests to participate.) The researchers also relied on 160 hours of courtroom observation conducted by law students. Oddly, three law students didn't bother to turn over their materials after doing the observations.
12.15.07
Unjust penalty system
Category: Chicago Appleseed In The News
A death penalty system that does not ensure the fair and just administration of law's ultimate punishment is reprehensible. Full implementation of essential safeguards designed to prevent wrongful imposition of the irrevocable sentence of death is more than an aspiration. It is a necessity.
12.14.07
Cook officials say court system near "meltdown": report says funding, reforms are needed badly
Category: Chicago Appleseed In The News
Cook County's top prosecutor and public defender -- opponents in so many cases -- made a unified plea Thursday, lambasting budget cuts they say have stretched their offices to the limit and beyond.
12.14.07
Criminal courts overburdened: report
Category: Chicago Appleseed In The News
Cook County's criminal courts are teetering under a massive volume of drug cases, mentally ill defendants and demands by elected officials who fail to provide adequate funding, according to a report by a legal advocacy group.
12.13.07
Cook County criminal courts overwhelmed, report says. Leaders say budget, staff cuts are biggest problem
Category: Chicago Appleseed In The News
Huge numbers of nonviolent drug offenders and mentally ill defendants have overwhelmed Cook County's criminal justice system, requiring new infusions of government spending to address the problem, a criminal justice advocacy group said in a report made public today.
12.13.07
Report: Cook Prisons Full of Non-Violent Offenders
Category: Chicago Appleseed In The News
Cook County's criminal justice system is overrun with non-violent offenders according to a new report by two watchdog groups. Malcolm Rich directs the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice, which released the report with the Chicago Council of Lawyers Thursday.
12.13.07
Criminal Courts Need Revamp, Group Says
Category: Chicago Appleseed In The News
A wide-ranging study released Thursday called for numerous criminal justice reforms, including in how Cook County deals with drug-addicted and mentally ill defendants.