Austin Segal -Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts |

About Austin Segal

Austin Segal (he/they) is Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts' Research & Program Coordinator. They recently graduated from Northwestern University, where they studied sociology, mathematical methods in the social sciences, and legal studies. They were involved in student organizations that promote constructive dialogue and community organizing, and they are writing an interdisciplinary thesis with original research on the implementation of queer-inclusive educational policies. They are deeply invested in supporting those harmed by the criminal legal system and developing equitable solutions for social injustices. View all posts by Austin Segal →

Ignoring Community Voices: Firearm Possession Charges Excluded from Restorative Justice Community Courts

Written by Maya Simkin, Appleseed Network Fellow, Austin Segal, Research Manager & Jill Dupont Memorial Fellow, and Naomi Johnson, Co-Executive Director. It's recently been announced that the Cook County State’s Attorney will no longer divert gun possession cases to the Restorative Justic...

Judicial Discretion in Cook County’s Problem-Solving Courts

Cook County’s problem-solving courts (PSCs) are specialized diversion courts that work with accused people whose mental health conditions and/or substance usage may have contributed to their arrests. The PSCs include Drug Treatment Courts, Veterans Treatment Courts, and Mental Health Courts; in othe...