The family of military vet found dead in a Chicago police cell is suing
The federal lawsuit claims Irene Chavez died by suicide as a result of the police department’s pattern of mistreating people in crisis.
Patrick Smith
Reporter, Criminal Justice
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Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s push to sue gang members moves forward
The proposal has been criticized since Mayor Lightfoot introduced it last year. A city council committee gave it the go-ahead Thursday.
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The heavy costs for Chicago’s anti-violence workers
A new survey shows people trying to prevent shootings are undersupported and overtraumatized. Researchers are offering solutions.
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Many unvaccinated prison guards are avoiding discipline, despite Illinois mandate
Prison staff had until Jan. 31 to get their first vaccine shot. About a quarter of workers are still unvaccinated.
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Experts weigh in on growing call for federal charges against Jason Van Dyke
The former Chicago police officer will have served just over three years for the murder. Experts weigh in on calls for the feds to step in.
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A plan to sue gang members could end up costing Chicago taxpayers
The proposal has been beset with criticism, most recently from civil rights attorneys. It gets a City Council hearing Friday.
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City investigation finds Lightfoot administration misled about the wrongful raid on Anjanette Young’s home
In 2019, CPD officers burst into the social worker’s home and fruitlessly searched it while Young stood naked and handcuffed.
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Chicago officer tries to repair relationship between CPD and families of murder victims
Grieving parents have complained for years about a lack of communication from CPD detectives. A new police unit aims to fix that.
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Cook County’s court reopening is drawing surprisingly positive reviews
When the right to a speedy trial resumed in October many predicted chaos and a rush of dropped cases, but that hasn’t happened.
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64% of Illinois prison workers are now vaccinated as their union fights the mandate
The number of workers vaccinated against COVID-19 has shot up since Gov. JB Pritzker announced a vaccine requirement.
