White Papers
Unequal Parenthood: How U.S. Parentage Law Fails LGBTQ+ Families in the Age of Assisted Reproduction – How to Fix It
This paper argues that the current U.S. parentage regime systemically disadvantages LGBTQ+ families by prioritizing...
The Legal Erasure of Indigenous Americans: U.S. Courts, Land Theft & the Need for Reparations
This paper explores the U.S legal system and its theft of Native land. Land acknowledgments...
The Illinois Juvenile Transfer Policies: Reforming Adult Prosecution of Youth
Illinois prosecutes hundreds of youths as adults each year through automatic transfer, discretionary waiver, and...
Stay W.O.K.E.: A Legislative Rewrite to the STOP W.O.K.E. Act
On July 1, 2022, HB 7, the Stop W.O.K.E. Act became law in the state...
Reclaiming What Is Theirs: A Legislative Rewrite on Osage Nation Headright Ownership and Transferability
Unbeknownst to the Federal Government, lying beneath the surface of much of Osage grazing land...
Proposing Legislation in Response to the Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act 1-Year Reports
The Illinois Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA) was introduced as Illinois legislation in 2021 and became...
Missouri Voting Law: Barrier for Voters
The purpose of this white paper is to inform and educate individuals of current suppressive...
Kentucky Constitution Amendment 1, November 2024: Restrictive Citizenship Voting Requirements
Kentucky’s Amendment 1 proposed excluding those from voting who are not citizens. Although federal law...
I’m Not Lovin’ It: Modern Day Slavery in the U.S. Prison System
Modern day slavery operates through the prison system, where incarcerated individuals are forced to work...
I Need a Playground Not a Prison: Juvenile Justice in Illinois
This paper provides recommendations for programming and policies in the Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice...
Earned and Denied: A Framework for Statutory Reforms to the Illinois Parole System
In 1978, the Illinois legislature established the Prisoner Review Board to replace the former Parole...
Deconstructing Equality: An Analysis of Trump’s Executive Orders
People of the United States have the right to be racially inclusive, gender inclusive, and...
Burying the Black Body and Mind: How Mass Incarceration Kills the Black Community
This white paper highlights the issues with current prison policies and practices in the United...
Bridging the Baby Gap: A White Paper on the Lack of Fertility Coverage for Medicaid Patients and the Disproportionate Impact on Black Women
In Illinois, the promise of reproductive healthcare access remains incomplete. While the state has positioned...
Beyond Bail: The Necessity for Cash Bail Abolition and Humane Reforms
Cash bail invites discrimination based on income in pretrial detention, is counterintuitive, and costs states...
Autonomía Prestada, Soberanía Negada: The Puerto Rico Federal Relations Act of 1950 and the Legal Fiction of Commonwealth Status
This white paper examines the constitutional and democratic foundations of Puerto Rico’s political status, focusing...
A Legislative Rewrite to the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act
Because of its expansive scope and regulation power, The Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act...