Justice
Read more about the article Police data show gun violence a chronic, growing problem across IllinoisPam Dempsey/Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting
Hundreds of people in Danville gather for a candlelight vigil on June 13, 2016, in honor of Devon McClyde, who was shot while playing basketball in Garfield Park on June 8, 2016. In 2017, eight people were killed from gun violence in Danville.

Police data show gun violence a chronic, growing problem across Illinois

His name was Devon McClyde and he was 16 years old when he was caught in the crossfire of an argument while playing basketball…

Continue ReadingPolice data show gun violence a chronic, growing problem across Illinois
Read more about the article Center for juvenile delinquents deals with more than 500 clients a yearDarrell Hoemann
Jonathan Westfield in the area where families meet at the Youth Assessment Center in Champaign, IL on Tuesday, November 7, 2017. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Center for juvenile delinquents deals with more than 500 clients a year

There is no such thing as a typical day at the Youth Assessment Center in Champaign, according to director Jonathan Westfield.

Continue ReadingCenter for juvenile delinquents deals with more than 500 clients a year
Read more about the article As deadline approaches for action on downtown jail, Champaign County faces funding and activists as roadblocksDarrell Hoemann
Darrell Hoemann/The News-Gazette One of the grouped areas. Photos at the Champaign County jail in downtown Urbana on Monday, March 11, 2013.

As deadline approaches for action on downtown jail, Champaign County faces funding and activists as roadblocks

With a U.S. Department of Justice-imposed deadline approaching, Champaign County officials have increasing pressure on them to either renovate or close the 37-year-old jail in downtown Urbana.

Continue ReadingAs deadline approaches for action on downtown jail, Champaign County faces funding and activists as roadblocks

University responds to CU-CitizenAccess, The Daily Illini investigation of sex crime reporting

The University of Illinois submitted the following op-ed in response to stories by CU-CitizenAccess and The Daily Illini about sexual assault on campus. CU-CitizenAccess is confident in the reporting on the issue. We will address the points made by the university in its letter in subsequent stories. The op-ed, from University police chief Jeff Christensen and Title IX Director Danielle Morrison, is published in full:

Continue ReadingUniversity responds to CU-CitizenAccess, The Daily Illini investigation of sex crime reporting
Read more about the article University officials delay in forwarding sex-related crimes to policeDarrell Hoemann
An emergency phone on campus on Thursday, April 6, 2017. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

University officials delay in forwarding sex-related crimes to police

University officials neglected to forward student reports of sex offenses to university police for months, despite the requirement that all sex crimes be reported immediately, according to a CU-CitizenAccess and The Daily Illini analysis and interviews with the police department.

Continue ReadingUniversity officials delay in forwarding sex-related crimes to police
Read more about the article Clery Act numbers lag behind reported sex crimes on campusDarrell Hoemann
Take Back the Night march heads west on Green Street in Urbana on Thursday, April 6, 2017. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Clery Act numbers lag behind reported sex crimes on campus

Officials have long said that sex offenses are underreported to authorities on campus, just as they are nationwide. But it has not been apparent that University officials are unable to track the number of sex-related crimes reported to them.

Continue ReadingClery Act numbers lag behind reported sex crimes on campus
Read more about the article Mass emails few, far between reported sex crimesDarrell Hoemann
An emergency phone at First and Kirby in Champaign on Thursday, April 6, 2017. photo by Darrell Hoemann/C-U Citizen Access

Mass emails few, far between reported sex crimes

For three years, the University of Illinois campus police failed to send out mass email alerts on sex-related crimes, despite requirements to do so by the U.S. Department of Education, according to a CU-CitizenAccess and The Daily Illini analysis of police records.

Continue ReadingMass emails few, far between reported sex crimes
Read more about the article $1 million lawsuit filed against Champaign County for death of inmate Toya FrazierDarrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org
A common area between pods at the Champaign County satellite jail in east Urbana on March 11, 2013.

$1 million lawsuit filed against Champaign County for death of inmate Toya Frazier

The lawsuit was filed on Dec. 1 by Frazier’s sister Jacqueline Jones against the county, Sheriff Dan Walsh and four medical and correctional staff members. It demands damages of $1 million.

Continue Reading$1 million lawsuit filed against Champaign County for death of inmate Toya Frazier
Read more about the article New court documents show top Champaign officials knew about problem officer before excessive force incidents
Screenshot of the latest City of Champaign filing in an excessive force lawsuit filed by Precious Jackson.

New court documents show top Champaign officials knew about problem officer before excessive force incidents

Top Champaign officials had met with concerned citizens about the conduct of former police officer Matt Rush as far back as 2012 – well before four incidents that led to excessive force lawsuits, new documents filed in court Wednesday show.

Continue ReadingNew court documents show top Champaign officials knew about problem officer before excessive force incidents
Read more about the article Bikes stolen on campus seldom recoveredDarrell Hoemann/CU-CitizenAccess.org
Matt Crosby, manager of Neutral Cycles, works on a bike by the map of bike thefts in the shop on campus in Champaign on Monday, March 28, 2016.

Bikes stolen on campus seldom recovered

If a bike is stolen from a University of Illinois student on the Urbana-Champaign campus, there is little chance the bike will be recovered. In fact, 95 bikes worth about $27,000 in total were reported stolen in 2015 and only 16 — about $3,600 worth — were recovered, according to university police.

Continue ReadingBikes stolen on campus seldom recovered