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- News & Politics, Feature Jul 1, 2020
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‘Ain’t I matter? Don’t I count?’
Raptivist Bella Bahhs elucidates the importance—and the failures of—the census for formerly incarcerated women.
- News & Politics, Feature Jun 30, 2020
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Coronavirus in jail: The life and loss of Nickolas Lee
A widow tried to save her late husband’s life during his stay at 26th and Cal. Instead she witnessed the explosive spread of COVID-19 inside.
- News & Politics, News Apr 13, 2020
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‘I’m not overreacting’
A man who has waited 20 years for a court-ordered hearing is trying to secure release from prison before the virus hits.
- News & Politics, Feature Nov 20, 2019
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‘The big house and the picket fence’
Tonya Crowder still dreams that she and her fiance, Roosevelt Myles—who’s been in prison for decades fighting what he says is a wrongful conviction—will one day build a life together somewhere “nice, quiet, and simple.”
- News & Politics, Feature Sep 12, 2019
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‘We Are Witnesses: Chicago’
In 15 direct-to-camera testimonies, this Marshall Project video series gives voice to Chicagoans affected by the justice system.
- News & Politics, Feature Sep 12, 2019
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‘I’m the bad guy now’: A retired cop on outing police misconduct
Bill Dorsch loved being a Chicago cop, then he witnessed misconduct by disgraced detective Reynaldo Guevara.
- News & Politics, Feature Sep 12, 2019
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Rewriting the narrative
- News & Politics, News May 23, 2019
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Civic engagement doesn’t die in prison
A state bill outlines an education program for those about to be released.
- Blogs, Bleader Jul 30, 2018
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Trans woman Strawberry Hampton reports continued assaults while detained at men’s prisons
Despite filing multiple complaints against guards and inmates, Strawberry Hampton is being denied a transfer to a women's prison.
- Blogs, Bleader Apr 25, 2018
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Life inside a supermax prison
Tamms Correctional Center was Illinois's only supermax prison. The Reader may have played a part in shutting it down.
- Music, Gossip Wolf Nov 14, 2017
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Underrated young rapper Charlie Curtis-Beard drops his ambitious second album
Plus: LGBTQ prisoner-advocate group Black and Pink throws a benefit show at Elastic, and weirdo beat project Spa Moans celebrates a new tape at the Hideout.
- Blogs, Bleader May 12, 2017
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This Mother’s Day, groups rally to support incarcerated moms
Through toiletry drives, “bail-outs,” and reunification rides, local activists work to brighten Mother’s Day in jail and prison.
- Blogs, Bleader Jul 5, 2016
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Orange Is the New Black's loaded fourth season gets it wrong
Orange Is the New Black returns with a fourth season that fails its feminist sensibilities.
- Blogs, Bleader Jul 16, 2015
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State budget showdown puts criminal justice reforms on hold
Bills to decriminalize pot and shrink the prison population are in purgatory while the governor and Democrats feud.
- Blogs, Bleader Jun 1, 2015
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Who lied in drug and double murder case: Police or their key witness?
Convicted drug dealer Jason Austin, held accountable for killing a cop and social worker, appeals his sentence.
- Blogs, Bleader Apr 20, 2015
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Cook County state's attorney: Time to lay off the pot prosecutions
State's attorney Anita Alvarez says her office will try to send people caught with small amounts of cannabis and hard drugs into treatment instead of jail.
- Blogs, Bleader Feb 12, 2015
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Former dealer gets light sentence after testifying in double-murder case despite death threats
A key witness in the prosecution of west-side drug dealer Jason Austin is sentenced to five and a half years in prison.
- Blogs, Bleader Sep 18, 2014
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Drug dealer gets 35 years in prison after judge says he 'very likely' committed a double murder
Jason Austin is held accountable for the 2008 murders of Robert Soto and Kathryn Romberg.
- Blogs, Bleader Sep 4, 2014
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Police chief: Time to trade the war on drugs for a war on guns
Garry McCarthy again calls for tougher sentences for gun offenders.
- Blogs, Bleader Aug 29, 2014
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Mechanic says police, not drug dealers, threatened him during murder investigation
Day four in the sentencing hearing of convicted west-side drug dealer Jason Austin
- Blogs, Bleader Aug 23, 2014
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Witness to double murder: 'Why? Why would you shoot?'
Day three in the sentencing hearing of convicted west-side drug dealer Jason Austin
- Blogs, Bleader Aug 22, 2014
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Is a key government witness telling the truth this time about a double murder?
Day two in the sentencing hearing of convicted west-side drug dealer Jason Austin
- Blogs, Bleader Aug 21, 2014
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Drug dealer wasn't convicted of murder but may serve time for it anyway
Federal prosecutors seek a long sentence for Jason Austin, who they say killed a cop and a social worker.
- News & Politics, Feature Jul 30, 2014
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A low-level drug dealer gets caught between the money and the violence of the heroin trade
Authorities say Terrance Scott witnessed a double murder—and was intimidated into changing his story.
- Arts & Culture, Feature Jul 16, 2014
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The life and death of Brooks Golden
The late street artist continues to make a mark on Chicago.