The senior advocacy group AARP is backing legislation aimed at addressing racial disparities in health care, economic security and digital connectivity for Illinoisans over 50. AARP Illinois, alongside community advocacy groups such as Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Chicago, the Chicago Urban League and the Resurrection Project, released a report in February analyzing substantial gaps […]
Raymon Troncoso,
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Criminal justice bill would overhaul officer certification
A criminal justice package that passed both chambers of the General Assembly last month contains provisions that would grant the state increased power over police discipline and standards of conduct starting in 2022. The omnibus package, which was backed by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, has not yet arrived at the desk of Gov. JB […]
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The end of cash bail in Illinois
This story is part of an ongoing “Lame Duck Look Back” series in which Capitol News Illinois is following up on the major bills that passed both chambers of the General Assembly in the Jan. 8-13 lame duck session. This is one of several stories examining the criminal justice reform package backed by the Illinois […]
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Sweeping criminal justice bill moves toward passage
The Illinois Senate passed a criminal justice omnibus bill early Wednesday morning after a grueling 20 hours of politicking during Tuesday’s lame duck session. The legislation is made up of several provisions that touch all facets of the criminal justice system. The Pretrial Fairness Act, a longtime passion project to end cash bail in Illinois […]
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Lawmakers push to reform state’s bail system
Some state lawmakers are looking to reform the cash bail system in Illinois, mainly by ending the use of money bonds as a factor in preventing a suspect’s release. State Sen. Robert Peters and state Rep. Justin Slaughter, both Chicago Democrats, will attempt to end the use of money bonds by sponsoring a forthcoming, yet-to-be-filed […]
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Systemic racism in Illinois home loan and banking industries
In Illinois and around the country, an increasing number of universities, investigators and researchers are turning up evidence of systemic racism in the financial sector that has plagued Black Americans for decades In June, a report from Chicago radio station WBEZ-FM and the nonprofit news organization City Bureau found that for every dollar banks loaned […]
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Pritzker outlines criminal justice reform
Gov. JB Pritzker announced seven “guiding principles” Oct. 6 to “build a more equitable criminal justice system,” a series of policy recommendations the governor says are priorities for his administration as it works with the General Assembly. The seven principles build on the justice reform agenda that was laid out by Pritzker and Lt. Gov. […]
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Black Caucus highlights racial health disparities
The Illinois Legislative Black Caucus is drawing attention to national and statewide health disparities between Black and white Americans in an effort to educate fellow lawmakers and build consensus for action ahead of the fall veto session. At an Oct. 9 news conference outside of the Touchette Regional Hospital in Centreville, ILBC Chairwoman state Sen. […]
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Steps to fairness include drug penalty reform, elderly parole
The Illinois Senate Criminal Law Committee and Special Committee on Public Safety held the latest in a series of hearings related to the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ legislative agenda Sept. 29, focusing on reclassifying offenses, drug penalty reform and elderly parole. “We must confront the vast disparities in how individuals throughout the state are sentenced,” […]
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Census can ’empower’ Asian Illinoisans
Elected officials in Illinois who make up the Asian-American Caucus, along with local community organizations, held Asian-American Census Day July 31 to promote participation in the census among Asian Illinoisans. During a news conference in Chicago’s Chinatown Square, Rep. Theresa Mah, D-Chicago, spoke about how the census has benefited the Asian community and why taking […]
