White Papers
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...
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...
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...
Continuity of Control: How Dobbs and Skrmetti Extend a Long History of State Power Over Marginalized Bodies
This white paper argues that the rationales used to justify abortion bans and restrictions on...
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...
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...