New research detects the most likely criminal ‘crews’ inside CPD
An analysis of public data on Chicago cops finds that their misconduct, often portrayed as a matter of “bad apples,” is a group phenomenon.
Criminal Justice
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Google settles $100 million biometric privacy lawsuit in Illinois
The lawsuit alleges Google’s face grouping tool violates the state’s biometric privacy law.
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What’s driving Chicago’s carjacking surge? Not the city’s youth, a new study suggests.
Police have blamed young people seeking joyrides for the uptick, but a researcher points to perpetrators with economic motivations.
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Jury convicts one of the Illinois prison guards accused of fatally beating an inmate
Jurors convicted Alex Banta for violating the civil rights of an inmate brutally beaten in 2018, but could not reach a verdict against a superior.
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Illinois slow to use federal funds to stop gun violence
The funds, part of the federal government’s response to the pandemic, were budgeted for anti-violence efforts, but have not yet been spent.
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Prisoncast: a special radio event for people in Illinois prisons
WBEZ is partnering with Illinois Public Radio stations across the state on a special radio event to serve people inside and their loved ones outside. Tell us what you want to hear!
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Cook County’s largest mass exoneration tosses 44 convictions tied to a corrupt cop
The number of vacated convictions tied to former Chicago Police Sgt. Ronald Watts is now 213.
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CPD’s growing use of cameras that read license plates leads to worries about data misuse
Automated license plate readers in Chicago log 200 million license plates a year, giving police a detailed pattern about drivers’ daily habits.
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How is Illinois’ cannabis industry doing two years in?
Legal recreational cannabis was supposed to generate tax revenue and create opportunities for entrepreneurs. How has that worked out?
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Police firing cases are stuck at the city’s Law Department. Those cops remain on the payroll.
A personnel hemorrhage since late 2020 has cut the size of Chicago’s Law Department by a quarter, a WBEZ analysis of city data finds.
