Criminal Justice
The Kim Foxx effect: how prosecutions have changed in Cook County
The state’s attorney promised to transform the office. Data shows she’s dismissed thousands of felonies that would have been pursued in the past.
Government and Politics
Six things to know about Illinois’ historic marijuana legalization law
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We’re annotating the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act to dig deeper into the key questions you have about social equity measures, enforcement and more.
Perspectives
Sheriff Tom Dart says Cook County Jail is the first to end solitary confinement. Here’s what it looks like from the inside.
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The Special Management Unit is supposed to be an alternative to isolating people who are violent in jail or break the rules, but a recent tour raises questions about how rehabilitative it is, especially for those in need of mental health care.
Investigations
Economic Development
Alternative energy scams hit poor blacks and Latinos the hardest, complaints show
Thousands are misled into switching suppliers in the hopes of saving money but instead see their utility bills spike, sometimes driving them into debt.
Settling for Misconduct
Chicago police use ‘cover charges’ to justify excessive force
Our analysis shows a troubling pattern of officers charging alleged victims of police misconduct with aggravated battery or assault to a police officer or resisting arrest.
Unequal Discipline
Women in prison punished more harshly than men around the country
Female prison inmates are being disciplined at much higher rates than men for lower-level offenses in many states.