“Woefully inadequate” — that’s how the former Justice Department official who oversaw the investigation of the Chicago Police Department described Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to seek a memorandum of understanding…

Invisible Institute in View From The Ground

Apr 27, 2017

More lawsuits for Guevara, Watts

BY CURTIS BLACK

Two lawsuits were filed last Monday by men whose convictions were overturned based on evidence that they had been framed by Chicago police.

Armando Serrano was released last July after serving 23 years in prison for a murder…

Invisible Institute in View From The Ground

Apr 21, 2017

Report Card on Reform: Incomplete

BY CURTIS BLACK

Early intervention, community policing, diversity, training, supervision, and changes to union contracts are areas where reform recommendations have not been implemented, Police Board president Lori Lightfoot told the Chicago…

Invisible Institute in View From The Ground

Mar 30, 2017

At Issue: Oversight is “complicated, messy”

BY CURTIS BLACK

Sharon Fairley has been studying the history of civilian review of police across the country, going back to the first example, in Washington D.C. in 1948. Details vary widely across localities. “It doesn’t matter…

Invisible Institute in View From The Ground

Mar 1, 2017

At Issue: Calls for Contract Changes

BY CURTIS BLACK

The City Council Black Caucus introduced a resolution calling on Mayor Rahm Emanuel to “publicly endorse” a series of changes to collective bargaining agreements with police unions, citing recommendations from the U.S…

Invisible Institute in View From The Ground

Feb 21, 2017

At Issue: This Week’s Round-up

BY CURTIS BLACK

Emanuel meets with Sessions

Mayor Rahm Emanuel met on Valentine’s Day with Attorney General Jeff Sessions but did not discuss prospects for a consent decree to provide court oversight for…

Invisible Institute in View From The Ground

Feb 16, 2017

At Issue: Navigating the Police Union Contract Negotiations in Chicago

BY CURTIS BLACK

Contracts with unions representing police officers have come under sustained attention – particularly in reports from the mayor’s Police Accountability Task Force and…

Curtis Black in View From The Ground

Feb 8, 2017

At Issue: Checking in on the Task Force

Lightfoot: “Little progress”

The “vast majority” of recommendations made by the mayor’s Police Accountability Task Force last year “have not been implemented,” said Police Board president Lori Lightfoot, who chaired…