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Recent Blog Posts
Increased mental health services needed
In my practice, I continually deal with mental health issues, whether in the criminal and juvenile justice arenas or when they factor into issues in civil cases. Many of these issues manifest themselves when the afflicted are juveniles or young adults. When children’s mental health issues are virtually ignored, they will not disappear. Although most […]
OIG Report on Enhanced Screening of Bureau of Prisons Correctional Officer Candidates Could Reduce Likelihood of Misconduct
Today. I was interviewed by the Voice of Russia America on the importance of the newly issued report of the Department of Justice’s Office of the Inspector General on “Enhanced Screening of Bureau of Prisons Corrections Officer Candidates Could Reduce Likelihood of Misconduct.” https://www.washingtonpost.com/r/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2011/09/29/National-Politics/Graphics/e1102.pdf Although the vast majority of correctional officers appropriately handle their duties […]
Resources for the girls at the Warrenville Youth Center
It is nice to post about something positive and uplifting regarding opportunities for the girls in the Illinois juvenile justice system. A few years ago, the Illinois Juvenile Department of Corrections was retooled and renamed the Department of Juvenile Justice but with the state of the state’s economy, still too little resources are available to […]
Release of Female Offenders
As Executive Director of the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, I encouraged innovative research on women and girl offenders. As a private practitioner, I have continued my efforts to aid women in the criminal justice system. Although I do not practice in California, it is noteworthy, that that state’s prison system is planning on releasing […]
Civil Stalking No Contact Orders
In Illinois, the courts hold domestic violence civil order of protection proceedings over persons who have had a dating or familial relationship. The courts now also hold civil stalking no contact proceedings for persons who have not had such a relationship but where conduct is alleged to have reached the level of stalking. The legislative […]
Pursuing relief from a criminal record
Frequently, I am asked questions regarding the Illinois clemency process, which can be long and arduous. Many times, a petition to expunge or seal may be the appropriate recourse. Expungement or sealing may not be available by law but petitioning for a certificate of good conduct or certificate of relief from disabilities may be appropriate […]
Mental Health Issues in the Criminal Justice System
Since my days as a student at Georgetown University Law Center and its Criminal Justice Clinic, I have spent a great deal of time working on the issue of the mentally ill within the criminal justice system. Although I will not be able to attend this program, I am happy that GULC is sponsoring what […]
No refusal weekend in Du Page County
If you plan to drive in Du Page County, Illinois this weekend, please be aware of these extreme measures that will be in place. https://www.dupageco.org/States_Attorney/States_Attorney_News/2011/32936/#.Tl-BT4QgBP0.facebook
Illinois Appellate Court Affirmed Finding of Probable Cause to Arrest Based on Repeatedly Yelling One Word
On July 27, 2011, the Illinois Appellate Court’s First District issued a corrected opinion in People v. Neal (No. 1-09-2814) https://www.state.il.us/court/Opinions/AppellateCourt/2011/1stDistrict/June/1092814.pdf, that a person standing on a street corner repeatedly yelling the word “blows” was properly subject to an arrest for a Chicago ordinance violation and property subjected to a custodial search which uncovered heroin. […]
Trends in Illinois Felony Sentencing Illustrate the Need for Good Representation
The recent statistics published by the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council in its research briefing, “Illinois Felony Sentencing: A Retrospective,” https://www.icjia.state.il.us/public/pdf/Bulletins/Research_Brief_SPAC_Felony_Sentences_052011.pdf show how many individuals are becoming statistics in the criminal justice system. The report found that despite reductions in reported Illinois crime from the early 1990s through 2008, the number of persons on probation, […]