A law that brought landmark reform to Illinois’ criminal justice system aimed to prevent defendants from remaining in jail awaiting trial because they could not afford bail. But two years after the Pretrial Fairness Act [PFA] eliminated cash bail in Illinois, McLean County jail is near record occupancy.

The Illinois Supreme Court issued attorney disciplinary orders during its September 2025 Term of Court. Sanctions were imposed because the lawyers engaged in professional misconduct by violating state ethics law.

A Chicago man is accused of shooting at his daughter and her girlfriend after confronting them about their sexual orientation. Jaime Santiago, 59, faces hate crime and attempted murder charges for the Aug. 24 attack in Humboldt Park. He was arrested over the weekend in Kissimmee, Florida.

State and federal lawmakers are leading efforts to force Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to reveal their identities during operations. Agents with face coverings are raising concerns about transparency, accountability, and public safety.

Chief Justice Mary Jane Theis and the Illinois Supreme Court announced yesterday the approval in concept of a new Community Justice Worker Program to allow for certified individuals who are not lawyers to provide limited legal assistance in designated high-need areas of law under the supervision of an Illinois-licensed attorney.

Heartland Community College criminal justice students will host an event on Oct. 2 examining an old murder case, wrongful convictions, and DNA evidence.

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and 21 other states are celebrating a victory in a case where they filed a lawsuit to prevent the Trump Administration from accessing information on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients.