“The criminal justice system is the next battleground
of the civil rights movement”
- Rev. Don Benedict, Protestants for the Common Good
A nation of laws cannot
be governed by injustice.
Who will speak out against
abuses by police and prosecutors, by our courts and legislative bodies?
A collective voice for justice
In the Chicago area, and throughout the state of Illinois, the culture of injustice is so entrenched that only the combined forces of all segments of society can bring about change. The Justice Coalition of Greater Chicago is the collective voice of those who are working to restore justice to the criminal justice system.
We are an alliance of more than 70 civic, religious, legal, educational, business, and community organizations and concerned individuals. Working together, we amplify our voices, strengthen our resolve, and enhance our individual and collective power to reform the criminal justice system.
Our goal is to create a criminal justice system that is the guardian
of the rights and safety of all citizens.
We call on our elected officials to live up to their responsibilities,
to punish those who abuse their authority, and to stand up for the rights
of the people in whose name they govern.
We call for a new professional culture among police and in our
courts. A culture of fairness and equal treatment under law. A culture
of accountability, that holds all members of the justice system responsible
to the people they serve. A culture of service, dedicated to ensuring safe
communities for all of us.
Defining issues, taking action
The Justice Coalition addresses a wide range of issues, including the death penalty and specific cases of injustice; police brutality and taping of police interrogations; police contracts, racial profiling, prison conditions, discriminatory ordinances and legislation, and more.
With our member organizations, we:
Investigate.
We monitor, probe, document, and expose cases of injustice and abuse
of civil rights.
Take action.
We seek legislative and judicial remedies, meet with public officials,
call for and testify at public hearings, hold rallies and demonstrations.
Educate and inform.
We reach out to community groups, congregations, and the public at
large through seminars and workshops, letters to the editor, and communication
with the media.