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Police Accountability, Surveillance, Racial Disparities: 2023 Mayoral Candidates Answer Questions from the Chicago Civil Rights Community

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Chicago mayoral candidates answered questions from civil rights advocates covering critical issues to their communities. The full questionnaire responses are available online here. Police reform and public safety are at the forefront of this year’s mayoral election. A recent poll revealed that Chicago voters feel unsafe from crime and unhappy with police relations. While the… Read More

Stop Shackling Pregnant Mothers

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Women in jail represent the fastest growing prisoner population in the United States, increasing 14-fold between 1970 and 2014. One consequence of this exponential rise is the increase in the number of pregnant women who are confined. In early 2014, Sandy Robles was one such woman, held at Milwaukee County Jail (MCJ) in Wisconsin. Incarcerated for a… Read More

Jury awards $17 million to man framed by Chicago cops for 1988 murder

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Jacques Rivera spent 21 years wrongfully imprisoned after he was framed by notorious Chicago Detective Reynaldo Guevara. Jacques Rivera hunched forward at the courtroom table Friday and pressed his forehead to the fingertips of his folded hands, whispering a prayer as the jury filed in. When the verdict was read — more than $17 million… Read More

Public outcry kills proposed FOIA law tweak that would’ve hidden police misconduct records

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By Maya Dukmasova, Chicago Reader Photo by Rich Hein, Chicago Sun-Times On Monday, April 23, within hours of Democratic state rep Anthony Deluca filing a bill to amend Illinois’s Freedom of Information law, a crescendo of opposition arose from civil rights lawyers and government transparency advocates. The amendment would’ve made misconduct complaints against police officers… Read More

Journalist Sues to Get Police & State’s Attorney Records of Laquan McDonald Shooting Investigations

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CHICAGO — The independent journalist who forced the release of the infamous Laquan McDonald police shooting video has sued Chicago Police, the Independent Police Review Authority, and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez to force release of their investigations into the police killing of the 17-year-old. The suits were filed on behalf of independent journalist… Read More

Why Police Shooting Cases Need Outside Prosecutors

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In the aftermath of highly publicized police shootings, a number of states around the country have enacted reforms requiring special prosecutors to investigate police shootings, and many other states are considering them. Chicago, more so than any other jurisdiction, needs to implement this reform. The demand for special prosecutors is a result of the following… Read More

Denver Sued for Refusing to Disclose Video Evidence of Jail Death

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An independent news organization sued Denver today to force the release of video and audio recordings showing deputies’ use of force on Michael Marshall that caused his death DENVER – The Colorado Independent, a non-profit news organization, filed a lawsuit today against the City and County of Denver, seeking the release of video and audio… Read More

Loevy & Loevy Client Brandon Smith Wins Release of Laquan McDonald Shooting Videos

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Loevy & Loevy client Brandon Smith, an independent journalist from Chicago, recently secured a major victory under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act, requiring the City of Chicago to release video recordings of Chicago Police officer Jason Van Dyke shooting and killing teenager Laquan McDonald. Loevy & Loevy is proud to represent journalists and citizens in… Read More

Journalist, Attorney Respond to Mayor Emanuel’s Comments on Release of Police Shooting Video

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November 13, 2015 – In a story date-lined 1:43 PM today, the Chicago Tribune reports that Mayor Emanuel commented on why the City of Chicago is still refusing to release police film of an officer shooting 17-year-old Laquan McDonald sixteen times in October 2014. The Tribune reports that Mayor Emanuel said that now is not… Read More