Latest News - Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts

Analysis of Eleven Jurisdictions Confirms: Bail Reform Does Not Cause Increased Crime Rates

As the Illinois Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the constitutionality of the Pretrial Fairness Act, it is vital to remember that abolition of money bail - and the decreased jail populations that will follow it - is a safe, just, and effective public policy. A new research report from the Gugge...

Support for SB 1478: Right to Counsel for Youth in Foster Care

Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts supports SB 1478, a bill sponsored by Illinois State Senator Gillespie and Representative Collins that amends the Juvenile Court Act to establish a statutory right to counsel for youth in DCFS care. Illinois is one of only 7 states that does not guarantee...

Mayoral Candidates Answer Questions from Chicago’s Civil Rights Community

Chicago Appleseed Center for Fair Courts, the Chicago Council of Lawyers, and Loevy & Loevy asked Chicago’s 2023 mayoral candidates about critical civil rights issues to their communities. JUMP TO INTERACTIVE PAGE >> JUMP TO FULL RESPONSES >> The questionnair...

Here’s what you should know before voting for Chicago’s Police District Councils.

During the upcoming February 28 municipal elections, Chicagoans will have a chance to directly elect civilian leaders to the newly created Police District Councils (PDCs). The councils, like the citywide Community Commission on Public Safety and Accountability (CCPSA), are the product of the Empo...

Support for SB 1830: Reducing Barriers to Recovery

Updated: February 10, 2023 Illinois has made great strides in reforming its laws and attempting to end mass incarceration, the war on drugs, and other harms caused by the criminal legal system. In January, Illinois made itself a national criminal justice leader by being the first state to com...