On Thursday, January 31, 2019, history was made in Chicago. Never before has a court-enforced consent decree to reform a city's police department been filed without the support of the U.S. Department of Justice. Here in Chicago, with the final approval of Federal Court Judge Robert Dow, the first measure of this kind became a reality.

Today Governor JB Pritzker signed into law the Combating Illegal Gun Trafficking Act as one of his first official acts in office! After years of tireless advocacy, the Illinois General Assembly passed SB 337 (PA 100-1178) on May 30, 2018 with bipartisan support. Many lives will be saved by this legislation.

For more than 30 days before November's Election, numerous news outlets reported on the significance of a high millennial voter turnout. They did vote. Consider where a significant amount of voter registration activity came from ... and where it did not come from.

Florida voters just approved a constitutional amendment to restore the right to vote to people with conviction histories. In Illinois, we already have that right but we don’t have access.

We grieve with and pray for those whose lives have been ripped apart by recent hateful acts of terror, but prayers are not enough.

We are pleased to announce that Fernando Diaz is the new editor-in-chief and publisher for The Chicago Reporter. 

Our coalition, and CRS specifically, showed significant representation at the Federal Building to testify on the consent decree that could change the way Chicago police interact with the public.

The FICPFM network has a profound commitment to transform society by transforming the US criminal justice system. Help end the unjust policy of money bail.

Fundamental to navigating the staircase is understanding racism, or perhaps better stated, "racialization.”

A prayer vigil is held in front of the Chicago Police Department headquarters in memory of Laquan McDonald and to call for a federal investigation into the case.

CRS's Police Accountability work can be visualized as a three-legged stool. Our coalition work in the areas of community-based police oversight (Grassroots Alliance for Police Accountability) and police contracts reform (Coalition for Police Contracts Accountability) stand as the first two legs.

Freedom is based on wealth — 90% of people detained in Cook County Jail are there pretrial, meaning they haven’t been convicted of any crimes.

HB 5341, also known as the F.A.T.E. (Fair Access To Employment) Bill, was signed into law by Governor Bruce Rauner on Friday, August 10. This legislation clarifies that outstanding legal financial obligations like fines, fees, and court costs cannot be considered when reviewing a sealing petition.

The public has until this Friday to call for Chicago Police reforms! Comment period ends August 17.

The legislation clarifies that outstanding legal financial obligations cannot be considered when reviewing a sealing petition.

In the aftermath of Harith's murder, the question must be asked: are our communities of worship silent?

HB 5341 will prohibit outstanding legal financial obligations from being considered when a person files to have their record sealed.

President Donald Trump's administration has enacted an immoral immigration policy of separating parents and children at the U.S. border, and routinely denying asylum to victims of domestic abuse and gang violence.

Pentecost is not only the longest season of the Christian liturgical calendar but one of the most prolific.

This was a good year for CRS’ platform for restoring opportunities and building a just economy for safe communities. The General Assembly passed several of our priority bills.