Questioning Civil Law Suits Used in the War on Crime

In a Chicago Tribune story, Elgin police credited their city’s civil lawsuit against some 70 reputed Latin Kings gang members with an apparent dip in crime during the winter months and suggest that civil suits should be used more liberally as a weapon in the war on crime.  But shortly after the suit...
January 28, 2011

Court Reform is Cost Reform

New Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle initially called for budget cuts of up to 21 percent, to combat a budget deficit of nearly 500 million dollars. In the last weeks of 2010, the Board president was still waiting for ideas from the Sheriff’s Office, the State’s Attorney, and the Clerk o...
January 10, 2011

America: Land of the Not So Free

The July 22nd issue of The Economist featured a cover story entitled "Rough Justice in America" that examines America's love affair with locking up its citizens. The article makes a compelling case lowering both the rate and duration of criminal sentences resulting in imprisonment and increasing res...
August 5, 2010

The Economic Case for Diversion Court

Cook County, like most metropolitan areas, has been hit hard by the recent financial crisis. Services are being cut, city staffers are being laid off and taxes are rising. Many of you may be asking why Chicago Appleseed is pushing for a new diversion court in this difficult financial environment. Ho...
June 23, 2010