Jim Lewis

 I was part of a recent panel discussion of democracy at Lincoln Land Community College, sponsored by the Academy of Lifelong Learning. Our discussion celebrated the beginning of self-government, of “democracy” in the New World, in the Virginia colony on Aug. 30, 1619. We did begin a form of self-government in August 1619, and we […]

There is a way forward with criminal justice: examine what works, and strengthen it; examine what doesn’t work, and change it. Law enforcement and the community share the responsibility and share the consequences, so they need to work together on this examination, strengthening and change. The community cannot simply wash its hands of its problems, […]

Four decades ago, we began to create a new problem: mass incarceration. In 1974, Illinois had 6,000 people in prison. Now, Illinois has more than 40,000 people in prison. In the same period, other states and the federal government also grew their prisons at similar rates, so that our country now has more people imprisoned, […]

 In a series of articles, I’m looking at questions about criminal justice: “Are we safe?” “Are we smart?” “Are we fair?” “What is the best way forward?” I’ve discussed Peoria’s police-plus-community effort, similar to the effort beginning now in Springfield and Champaign-Urbana, to deter people who appear likely to commit gun violence. Let’s look at […]

I believe, based on experience, that we can reduce gun violence. When faced with a surge in gun violence, Peoria adopted “focused deterrence,” and this seems to reduce the problem. David Kennedy, in his book, Don’t Shoot: One Man, a Street Fellowship, and the End of Violence in Inner-City America, describes his years of experience […]

I offered to write some articles for Illinois Times about criminal justice, because I have some concerns, and because I suspect that many readers also have concerns. I plan to look at a series of questions, including “What causes violence?” “Can we reduce violence?” “Are we safe?” “Are we smart?” “Are we fair?” And the […]