Illinois abolished traditional parole in 1978, one of 16 states to have abolished or severely restricted discretionary parole. Of the 1.4 million people currently held in U.S. prisons, one in seven have life sentences. In states with parole, incarcerated individuals can present their cases to a parole board for release after serving minimum sentences. This […]
Susan Allen
Posted inOpinion
Stop trying juveniles in adult court
This year in Sangamon County, the state’s attorney successfully sought the removal of two cases involving adolescents to adult court for trial. It’s true that their crimes are serious, each involving a loss of life, but adult court is the wrong place for juveniles for three reasons: 1. adolescent brains are not yet fully developed, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
‘Emma Lou was anti-authoritarian at its finest’
Emma Lou Eastman Little Born soon after women earned the right to vote, Emma Lou Little relished politics. She loved President Obama because he restored honor to the State of Illinois, delivered intelligent speeches and listened to his wife. Emma Lou’s father took her as a child to see each president who visited the Midwest. […]
Posted inOpinion
It’s time for Illinois to ratify ERA
Once more, the State of Illinois has an opportunity to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. It should act to do so quickly. The ERA quite simply establishes gender equality under the law. The amendment reads as follows: “Section 1. Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged […]
