Shannon Heffernan
Reporter, Criminal Justice
Her reporting has earned her a Third Coast International Audio Festival Award, a National Murrow Award for best writing and a PRINDI for best writing, as well as awards from the Illinois AP and Chicago Headline Club. She worked on the 16 Shots podcast, which was a Scripps Howard finalist. Her work has been heard on local and national programming, including This American Life.
Shannon also writes short fictional stories and has been published Hobart, The Indiana Review and The Columbia Review, where she won the 2016 prize for fiction.
Stories by Shannon Heffernan
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Cook County has been giving felony records to people who should not have them
For at least three years, a data error has caused chaos in the lives of people who were promised a clean record if they did probation.
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People in Illinois prisons are endangered by lack of medical staff
An independent monitor reported problems are largely related to major staffing shortages, with 46% of medical positions left unfilled.
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Chicago libraries now offer mental health help
Clinicians take walk-ins and appointments at some local libraries. The service is open to all Chicagoans, regardless of insurance or ability to pay.
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Five of Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson’s public safety promises — and obstacles
He’s vowed to add 200 detectives, shut off ShotSpotter, expand crisis teams, create trauma centers and beef up domestic violence efforts.
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Illinois officials obtained do-not-resuscitate orders from prisoners who were not of sound mind
Nine months after a court appointed monitor made the allegations, there is no evidence the corrections department investigated.
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A former Illinois prison guard gets 20-year sentence for fatal beating
In pleading for leniency Alex Banta said he took a job as a prison guard at 23 and had no idea how it would change him.
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Illinois prison guards face sentencing for fatal beating
The first of three former guards convicted of beating Larry Earvin in a downstate prison will face sentencing in federal court Thursday.
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Five things to know as the Safe-T Act goes to the Illinois Supreme Court
On March 14, the Illinois Supreme Court will hear oral arguments that will determine the future of cash bail in the state.
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Director of Illinois Department of Corrections resigns
Rob Jeffreys, who has led the department since June 2019, is stepping down.
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Community activists are claiming a majority of wins in new police oversight council elections
A coalition of activists, faith-based organizations and labor groups celebrate their success drafting candidates who won election to the newly formed Chicago police district councils.
