Jonah Newman
@jonahshai.bsky.social
Managing editor at Injustice Watch, a nonprofit newsroom focused on issues of equity and justice in the courts.
70 FIRES in just 3 YEARS
Shannon Heffernan@shannonheffernan.bsky.social · 2w agoOver the last three years there have been more than 70 fires at an Illinois prison, including 12 cases of self-immolation. One man needed a skin graft. Another lost a leg. Two have died. A new investigation below. www.themarshallproject.org/2026/07/24/p...
Chaotic, crowded Chicago immigration mega court hearings are fueling record deportation orders chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/... Our recent story with @bylaurenfitz.bsky.social
Chaotic, crowded Chicago immigration mega court hearings are fueling record deportation orders
New “mega master” hearings that began in Chicago in May are calling as many as 185 immigrants to a single small courtroom. Many immigrants, fearful and unable to find a lawyer on short notice, are mis...
chicago.suntimes.com
Join us Tuesday, August 18, for a conversation about how Cook County prosecutors are seeking warrants for people who miss traffic court — even though they’ve already been detained or deported by ICE. buff.ly/arMpjga
An estimated 40,000 Missourians on parole or probation will regain the right to vote, in the latest state-level rollback of felony disenfranchisement. I wrote about it in @boltsmag.org: boltsmag.org/gop-run-miss...
GOP-Run Missouri Becomes Latest State to Roll Back Felony Disenfranchisement - Bolts
A new law will restore voting rights for tens of thousands of people on probation and parole. It’s a departure from other GOP bills this session to restrict democracy.
boltsmag.org
Many thanks to the Toronto Star for inadvertently showing us why we should all use the Oxford Comma. Apparently Sylvia had some, let's say, complicated hobbies:
In other news my toddler stole my phone and tried to order groceries
chicago.suntimes.com/the-watchdog... Carlos Baker, who shot and killed his partner Krystal Rivera, was referred to a strict supervision program just weeks before the killing. But a supervisor never followed up on the email and he was never enrolled w @schuba.bsky.social @peternickeas.bsky.social
Chicago police failed to place troubled cop under strict supervision before he fatally shot partner
Carlos Baker was referred to a program that puts officers under intense oversight. Failing could mean “severe” discipline or firing. But Baker wasn't enrolled before he shot Officer Krystal Rivera bec...
chicago.suntimes.com
For years, Chicago police have failed to report tens of thousands of traffic stops per month, in violation of state law. A year after CPD promised to “fix” the problem, it’s gotten worse. By @pascalsabino.bsky.social, for @boltsmag.org and @injusticewatch.org: www.injusticewatch.org/criminal-cou...
Chicago Police promised to ‘fix’ secret traffic stops. A year later, the problem has only gotten worse.
As Chicago’s top cop steps down, police are making fewer traffic stops. But our new investigation finds half of stops are still not being reported to oversight agencies, despite a state law mandating ...
injusticewatch.org
Every time I’ve checked today, the AQI in Chicago has been higher than the time before. It’s now reached “I didn’t know it could get this high” levels.
Puff the Magic Hater@mskellymhayes.bsky.social · 3w agoYou know things are not going well when there's an illustration of a man in a gas mask next to the AQI.
As Chicago’s top cop steps down, police are making fewer traffic stops. But a new investigation from Injustice Watch and @boltsmag.org finds most stops are still not being reported to oversight agencies, despite a state law mandating disclosure. www.injusticewatch.org/criminal-cou...
Chicago Police promised to ‘fix’ secret traffic stops. A year later, the problem has only gotten worse.
As Chicago’s top cop steps down, police are making fewer traffic stops. But our new investigation finds half of stops are still not being reported to oversight agencies, despite a state law mandating…
injusticewatch.org
Update: Gov. J.B. Pritzker has signed this legislation into law. Read our work below with @boltsmag.org to see how Illinois is raising the compensation for wrongfully convicted people, who often leave prison with few means to rebuild their lives.
Injustice Watch@injusticewatch.org · 2mo agoIllinois has lagged behind other states when it comes to state compensation for people who are wrongfully convicted. A new bill aims to change that. (Co-published with @boltsmag.org) buff.ly/DbhCj4f
I started calling people who raised concerns about Arkansas private schools. One said: “I don’t mind that you are reaching out but it is very concerning and in a way aggravating that I have an investigative reporter reaching out instead of my own state.” www.propublica.org/article/arka...
This Private School Had Students Scrub Floors and Attack a Fellow Classmate. The State Still Funds It.
One of the few requirements for Arkansas private schools is that they have an American flag and a flagpole. But millions in state funds go to the largely unmonitored schools while complaints about saf...
propublica.org
“You lie. You lie all the time,” the school owner said to the student. She then directed classmates to attack him. She gave one a high-five. This private school, funded with tax dollars, is among an explosion of private schools in the past 3 years. www.propublica.org/article/arks...
This Private School Had Students Scrub Floors and Attack a Fellow Classmate. The State Still Funds It.
One of the few requirements for Arkansas private schools is that they have an American flag and a flagpole. But millions in state funds go to the largely unmonitored schools while complaints about saf...
propublica.org
By the time Supt. Larry Snelling retires Wednesday, CPD will have fully completed just 25% of the consent decree’s requirements, according to the most recent measurement of the department’s efforts to comply with the court-ordered reforms. https://to.wttw.com/4aTPKnk
With Larry Snelling’s Retirement as Chicago’s Top Cop, Progress on Court-Ordered Reforms Hangs in Balance
It will be up to Chicago's next top cop to complete the hundreds of tasks laid out by the nearly seven-and-a-half-year-old court order while making sure the changes stick — and put an end to the decad...
to.wttw.com
This is the second time in as many months that a city transportation planner and cycling advocate has been killed while riding. Last month Chicago lost Riley O’Neil, now the Boston cycling community had lost Louisa Gag. Gutting, infuriating, and completely preventable. No paywall: archive.ph/AJHAy
The Boston Globe@bostonglobe.com · 4w agoA cycling advocate and transportation planner for the city of Boston was identified as the cyclist who was struck and killed in a crash near Roxbury Crossing this morning.
Tomorrow is a big day in Chicago! It's the groundbreaking ceremony & celebration of the historic Chicago Torture Justice Memorial. The Memorial is the first state sponsored monument in the nation to commemorate law enforcement violence.
Update: A Cook County judge granted Tyrece Williams’ certificate of innocence last week over prosecutors’ objections. Read our work on Williams’ fight to prove his innocence of a 1990 murder and State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s campaign against the sought-after court orders (w/@boltsmag.org)
Injustice Watch@injusticewatch.org · 3mo agoTyrece Williams is seeking a certificate of innocence in part to give his four children an official acknowledgement that what happened to their family was wrong. He watched his children grow up largely through photographs his family mailed to him in prison. (w/ @boltsmag.org) buff.ly/GAxhSl8
Absolute banger of an obituary in the Seattle Times today, rest in peace Judy
Reminder that we're collecting tips about judges up for retention this fall in Cook County! @injusticewatch.org wants to hear from lawyers, litigants, family members, court workers, and anyone else with experience seeing these judges work! Tips are confidential www.injusticewatch.org/judges/judic...
What can you tell us about these Cook County judges running for retention?
We’re researching the Cook County judges running for another term in November for our judicial election guide. Have something to share? Let us know.
injusticewatch.org
Thanks to Mike Stephen from Outside the Loop Radio for having me on @wgnradio.bsky.social to discuss my story for @injusticewatch.org and @boltsmag.org on a court ruling and legislation that clash with Eileen O'Neill Burke's efforts to stop exonerated people from getting certificates of innocence.
OTL #1,027: Certificate of innocence update, New music from Cult Canyon, The new film Ricardo explores identity and acceptance | Outside the Loop RADIO
Mike Stephen gets an update on the hurdles to obtaining certificates of innocence from Injustice Watch senior reporter Dan H
outsidetheloopradio.com
Injustice Watch@injusticewatch.org · 2mo agoIllinois has lagged behind other states when it comes to state compensation for people who are wrongfully convicted. A new bill aims to change that. (Co-published with @boltsmag.org) buff.ly/DbhCj4f
Congrats to @mdoukmas.bsky.social, who won a Best Investigative Journalism Award from the Institute for Nonprofit News for "Forensic Failures" 🎉 www.injusticewatch.org/project/fore...
Fake science, faulty methods, misleading testimony
How a rogue forensics lab in Chicago got people wrongfully convicted for driving high.
injusticewatch.org
Institute for Nonprofit News@inn.org · 2mo agoCongratulations to the winners of the 2026 Nonprofit News Awards who illustrate what it means to serve the public through journalism. Best Investigative Journalism: @jaxtoday.org, @voicesofmonterybay.bsky.social, @injusticewatch.org, @occrp.org.
Illinois has lagged behind other states when it comes to state compensation for people who are wrongfully convicted. A new bill aims to change that. (Co-published with @boltsmag.org) buff.ly/DbhCj4f
Illinois bill and court ruling could help more people move on after wrongful convictions
Days after an appeals court ruled that some people should automatically get certificates of innocence, state legislators passed a bill to raise compensation for wrongful convictions.
injusticewatch.org
An Illinois court decision and bill passed within days of each other could make it both easier for exonerated people to get certificates of innocence and raise the compensation for those who do. @danhinkel.bsky.social has the update (w/@boltsmag.org): www.injusticewatch.org/project/deny...
Illinois bill and court ruling could help more people move on after wrongful convictions
Days after an appeals court ruled that some people should automatically get certificates of innocence, state legislators passed a bill to raise compensation for wrongful convictions.
injusticewatch.org
New @themarshallproject.org @ms.now report shows since Trump returned to office, ICE has taken a total of more than 500 babies and toddlers into custody: www.themarshallproject.org/2026/06/09/b...
Trump Has Put 500 Babies and Toddlers In Immigration Jails
Young children in detention stopped eating, began hitting themselves and became ill, according to parents.
themarshallproject.org
