ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES.

I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN ON THE SHOW TONIGHT.

WHAT TO EXPECT AS THE STATE'S REPARATIONS COMMISSION KICKS OFF PUBLIC HEARINGS.

A DEEP DIVE INTO HOW TO REDUCE MASS INCARCERATION IN AMERICA.

ONE OF MY AS WELL.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HAPPENS.

WE'LL SEE.

AND HOW A LOCAL ORGANIZATION IS HELPING PEOPLE PURCHASE THEIR FIRST HOME.

AND NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES IN RELEASING ITS NEARLY 10 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET.

CHICAGO PUBLIC SCHOOLS SAYS THE BUDGET SHORTFALL THIS YEAR IS BIGGER THAN EXPECTED.

OFFICIALS SAY ADDITIONAL COSTS IN HEALTH CARE IN SPECIAL EDUCATION ADDED MORE THAN 100 MILLION DOLLARS TO THE DEFICIT, BRINGING THE TOTAL UP TO 505 MILLION DOLLARS.

CPS SAYS TO FILL THAT GAP.

IT'S MADE SOME DEPARTMENTAL CUTS IN DEBT RESTRUCTURING AMONG OTHER CROSS, SAVING EFFORTS.

MEANWHILE, UNDER THE NEW FUNDING MODEL, THE DISTRICT SAYS 95% OF ITS OPERATING BUDGET FUNDS WILL GO DIRECTLY TO SCHOOLS.

AND WHILE SOME SCHOOLS WILL SEE REDUCED FUNDING LEVELS NEXT YEAR, THE TOTAL AMOUNT CBS ALLOCATES FOR SCHOOL BUDGETS WILL NOT BE CUT.

AND NEIGHBORS IN BEVERLY MORGAN PARK IN AUBURN GRESHAM ARE STILL UNDER A BOIL ORDER, AT LEAST UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING.

HIGH PRESSURE, WATER MAIN LEAK INSIDE THE ROSELAND PUMPING STATION TUESDAY NIGHT LED THE CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF WATER MANAGEMENT TO ISSUE THE ORDER, THOUGH THE WATER MAIN IS BACK ONLINE AND FULLY PRESSURIZE.

THE DEPARTMENT IS STILL TESTING IF IT'S SAFE TO DRINK.

RESIDENTS IN THE AREA SHOULD BRING WATER TO A FULL ROLLING BOIL FOR AT LEAST 5 MINUTES TO ENSURE THAT SAFE FOR CONSUMPTION.

AND FOR MORE ON STORING BOILED WATER AND WHERE TO PICK UP FREE BOTTLED WATER.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER IS SIGNING INTO LAW MEASURES DESIGNED TO MAKE HEALTH CARE COVERAGE EASIER FOR CONSUMERS AND PATIENTS PRITZKER'S OFFICE SAYS THE MAIN TARGET OF THE HEALTH CARE PROTECTION ACT IS BANNING STEP THERAPY.

THAT'S THE PRACTICE OF INSURANCE COMPANIES REQUIRING PATIENTS TO TRY AND FAIL ON SEVERAL MEDICATIONS AND TREATMENT OPTIONS BEFORE COVERING THE CARE PREFERRED BY THEIR DOCTORS.

THE LEGISLATION ALSO ELIMINATES PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PATIENTS SEEKING IN-PATIENT MENTAL HEALTH CARE AND BANS THE SALE OF SO-CALLED JUNK INSURANCE PLANS THAT DON'T MEET AFFORDABLE CARE ACT STANDARDS.

I'M THINKING ABOUT HOW THIS WILL CHANGE AND SAVE THE LIVES OF THOSE EXPERIENCING A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS.

LET ME BE CLEAR.

INSURANCE INVENTED ROADBLOCKS LIKE PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENTS HAVE PUT PEOPLE DIRECTLY INTO HARM'S WAY.

AND UP NEXT, AN UPDATE ON ILLINOIS'S REPARATIONS EFFORTS RIGHT AFTER THIS.

CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

ILLINOIS RESIDENTS LOOKING TO WEIGH IN ON REPARATIONS.

HERE'S YOUR CHANCE.

THE STATE'S REPARATIONS COMMISSION IS KICKING OFF PUBLIC HEARINGS ACROSS ILLINOIS WITH THE FIRST IN CHICAGO ON SATURDAY.

COMMISSION IS TASKED WITH RESEARCHING AND REPORTING ON POSSIBLE REPERTORY ACTIONS FOR BLACK RESIDENTS WHO ARE DESCENDANTS OF SLAVERY.

LEADERS SAY THE PUBLIC'S INPUT WILL BE USED DEVELOPING PROPOSALS FOR POLICYMAKERS.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE, OUR DANIEL DAVIS, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF AFRICANA STUDIES AND AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AT KENNEDY KING COLLEGE.

AND ONE OF THE HEARINGS FEATURED SPEAKERS AND JOINING US RESUME IS MARVIN SLAUGHTER, THE BOARD CHAIR OF THE AFRICAN DESCENT CITIZENS REPARATIONS COMMISSION.

THANKS TO YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

SO MARTIN, LET'S START WITH YOU.

PLEASE TELL US ABOUT THE COMMISSION AND WHY WE NEED IT.

YES, YOU KNOW, THE COMMISSION ORIGINALLY STARTED NEW 2021.

I WAS AN AMBITIOUS PLAN BY LEGISLATIVE BLACK TO DISMANTLE SYSTEMIC RACISM IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

SO THE CAUCUS INTRODUCED LEGISLATION REFORM 4 KEY PILLARS ILLINOIS GOVERNMENT IN THIS WORK FALL UNDER REFORMATION ECONOMIC AT OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN.

I MEAN, IT'S DEFINITELY SOMETHING THAT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ON UNDERSTANDING THAT THE BLACK COMMUNITY'S BARRIERS TO ECONOMIC ACCESS EQUITY AND OPPORTUNITY ARE SO LARGE.

SO THIS IS PART OF THE REASON WHY THIS DOES WORK IN THESE EFFORTS ARE SOME IMPORTANT.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THIS THE LAW CREATED THE COMMISSION BACK IN 2021.

WHEN, OF COURSE, AT THE TIME THE BLACK MANAGED TO USHER THROUGH A NUMBER OF OTHER, A VERY SPECIFIC LAWS FOR THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

WHY ARE WE JUST NOW GETTING TO HEARINGS?

BRING US UP TO SPEED ON WHAT THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN DOING FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS.

YES, INDEED, ISN'T IT?

SO THAT THE COMMISSION HAS BEEN PUBLIC AND GATE TO EVENTS IN THE COMMUNITY?

WE'VE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO GET THE WORD OUT IN START DOING SOME OF THE EDUCATIONAL WORK WE HAVE HOSTED A VACANCY IN IN SPRINGFIELD, EAST ST. LOUIS AND CHICAGO LAST LAST FALL WE BROUGHT NIKOLE HANNAH-JONES FOR A CONVERSATION WITH ONE OF OUR COMMISSIONER DOCTOR TED WILLIAMS.

THE 3RD AND WE'VE BEEN, YOU PUTTING OUR HIS DOWNING IN BEGINNING TO GET TO WORK.

IN ADDITION TO THAT, WE ON BOARD.

OUR RESEARCH TEAM HAVE BUT THE WORK THAT IS GOING TO BE NECESSARY PRODUCING OR HARM REPORT.

AND MARVIN, BEFORE BRING DANIEL AND AS WELL.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FOR THE DISCUSSION AT THE AND WHAT DO YOU WANT TO HEAR FROM THE PUBLIC?

INDEED, INDEED.

SO, YOU KNOW, THE FORM OF THE HEARING WILL WILL HAVE 3 EXPERT SPEAKERS WILL KIND OF GROUND I WILL HAVE DOCTOR DAVE DAVIS, DOCTOR PETER COLE IN FOR HAMPTON JUNIOR.

I MEAN, THEY WILL BE SPEAKING 3 IT'S LATE RESULTS HERE POLITICAL DISENFRANCHISEMENT.

THEN WE'LL HAVE SECTION OF REGISTER PUBLIC COMMENT.

WE WILL HAVE 3 MEMBERS WHO HAVE ALREADY REGISTERED TO SPEAK FROM THE COMMUNITY THAT WILL TALK TO EACH OF THOSE 3 ISSUES AND THEN WE'LL GO INTO IN-PERSON PUBLIC ON THE WHERE INDIVIDUALS SHOW UP AND SIGN UP WILL AN OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE A 2 MINUTE ONE-WAY COMMENT EXPLAIN EITHER THEIR FAMILY.

THERE IT IS OR RECOMMENDATIONS THAT THEY MIGHT HALF WHERE THE COMMISSION AND ULTIMATELY, YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE PUBLIC INPUT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO US.

IT SERVES AS ONE OF THE CORE PILLARS OF INPUT TO BOTH OUR FARM REPORT.

WILL RECOMMEND ISSUES WE WILL CONSIDER IN SENIOR TO THE ILLINOIS STATE LEGISLATURE EXPERTISE COMES IN MANY FORMS AND THE COMMISSION, ALTHOUGH IT'S COMPRISED OF MANY SUBJECT MATTER, VIRTS.

WE RECOGNIZE THE LIMITATIONS OF OUR WHOLE NOT MUCH.

WE VALUE THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF CITIZENS OF ILLINOIS PARTICULARLY THE LIVED EXPERIENCES CITIZENS FROM THE HEART COMMUNITY.

ALSO WELL, SORRY, I JUST WANT TO GET DANIEL DAVIS IN HERE AS WELL, BECAUSE AS YOU MENTIONED, YOU'RE GOING TO BE SPEAKING SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THE ROLE OF SLAVERY IN ILLINOIS.

I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS TO BE SURPRISED TO LEARN THAT THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED HERE.

YOU KNOW, USUALLY WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF SLAVERY, ONE FIRST MOST PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT SLAVERY, RIGHT?

PEOPLE MAY FEEL THEY KNOW, BUT THEY DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND.

EVEN WITH THAT SAID, PEOPLE USUALLY THINK IT WAS IN THE SOUTH ONLY RIGHT NOW.

YES, IT WAS HEAVILY CONCENTRATED IN THE SO BUT NORTHERN SLAVERY WAS A REAL THING.

ILLINOIS WAS ALSO GUILTY OF THE SAME BEGINNING IN 17, 20 ALL THE WAY UNTIL EMANCIPATION.

THERE WAS A LOT OF SLAVERY IN ILLINOIS.

SO TO PIGGYBACK OF WHAT HE WAS STATING ABOUT, CONTEMPORARY ISSUES, RIGHT, AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE FACING IN THE STATE.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SLAVERY IN THE IN THE OTHER THINGS THAT WERE CUT FROM AS A PEOPLE AS AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND HOW THAT PREVENTED US FROM BUILDING GENERATIONAL WEALTH CREATED A SOCIAL ATMOSPHERE WHERE AFRICAN-AMERICANS WERE LOOKED AT AS SECOND-CLASS, EVEN PER CLASS CITIZENS OR LESS THAN HUMAN AND HOW THAT STILL IMPACTS US TODAY.

SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT HISTORY.

AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE IN ILLINOIS WHAT YOU SAID?

17, 20?

BECAUSE A LOT OF FOLKS HERE, SLAVERY AND WE IMAGINE OBVIOUSLY PLANTATION SLAVERY.

BUT YOU CAN EXIST LIKE YOU SAID IN A PLACE THAT DID NOT HAVE THE SAME SORT OF PLANTATIONS THAT A MEETING, MISSISSIPPI OR ALABAMA.

ABSOLUTELY.

SO THERE WERE ALSO PLANTATIONS HERE, BUT THERE WAS SALT MINES AND OTHER PLACES WHERE THEY WERE ENSLAVED.

AFRICAN AMERICANS MUCH LIKE THE SOUTH WORKING BACKBREAKING LABOR BEING SOLD, HAVING YOUR CHILDREN.

SO THE WAY FROM YOU BEING WITH BEING SEXUALLY ASSAULTED THE CENTER AND WORKING FOR FREE RIGHT BEING BANNED FROM, YOU KNOW, NORMAL AVENUE SUCCESS THAT OTHER AMERICANS GOT ENJOY SO ALL OF THOSE THINGS HAPPEN ILLINOIS, JUST LIKE MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA, ANOTHER 7 PLACE AT MANY PEOPLE ARGUE THAT SLAVERY HAPPENED GENERATIONS AGO HUNDREDS OF YEARS AGO.

WHY SHOULD THERE BE REPARATIONS FOR IT TODAY?

WHY SHOULD THE HUMANS THE PEOPLE OF TODAY HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED SO LONG WHAT IS ARGUMENT?

YES, AND THAT IS THE CORE QUESTION, SO BEING BLOCKED FROM BUILDING GENERATIONAL WEALTH TO PASS.

NOW TO YOUR FAMILY, WHAT PEOPLE HAVE TO REALIZE IS THAT WHILE AFRICAN AMERICANS WORKING FOR FREE BEING CUT OFF FROM BUILDING WELL, WHAT AMERICANS THAT OWN SLAVES WERE BUILDING THEIR WEALTH AND THEIR CHILDREN GET TO BENEFIT FROM THAT RIGHT?

WE'VE I'LL BE SPEAKING ABOUT THIS AT THE EVENT, BUT THERE'S EVEN THINGS LIKE MILITARY VOUCHERS THAT WENT DISCUSSED OR THAT ARE DISCUSSED ILLINOIS.

IF YOU ARE A ENSLAVED PERSON, NOBODY IS BORN A SLAVE.

SO WE DON'T LIKE TO USE LATE RIGHT?

IF YOUR ENSLAVED PERSON WAS SENT OFF TO FIGHT IN WAR, YOU'LL BE COMPENSATED FOR THAT.

YOU GET A BUDGET FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO PAY FOR THAT LAST PERSON LOST PROPERTY.

I MEAN, THAT'S A FORM OF REPARATIONS, IF YOU WILL, AND PAY ME.

AND AMONG A LONG LIST OF OTHERS, RIGHT?

SO WE'VE SEEN REPARATIONS FOR WHITE PEOPLE AND OTHERS FOR GENERATIONS.

WHY ARE AFRICAN-AMERICANS EXCLUDED DANIEL FIRST AND THEN MARVIN, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A LIMITED AMOUNT OF TIMES ARE JUST ABOUT A MINUTE AND A HALF LEFT.

AND WHY DO YOU THINK THE DISCUSSION ON REPARATIONS HAS SHIFTED SO MUCH IN THE LAST 2 YEARS?

THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I MEAN, I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE WORK THAT MYSELF THE COMMISSION AND OTHERS ARE DOING TO SPREADING THE WORD.

I THINK THAT THE WORD IS GETTING OUT.

MORE PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THAT, YOU KNOW, SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT HERE THROUGH BY.

SO IT SEEMS HAVE CAN AMERICAN HISTORY AND AFRICANA STUDIES.

BUT THE PUSHING OUT THAT WHERE THAT AFRICAN-AMERICANS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IN LOW-INCOME ENVIRONMENTS WHERE DISPROPORTIONATELY FAILING IN SCHOOL DISPROPORTIONATELY HAVING THESE PROBLEMS.

BECAUSE SOMETHING'S WRONG WITH US.

AS A PEOPLE, THERE ARE CAUSAL MACRO LEVEL MICRO LEVEL.

HISTORICAL FACT IS THAT PUT US IN THIS POSITION AND I THINK THAT WHERE TO START TO SPREAD I'M HAPPY TO SEE MARVIN COUPLE SECONDS LEFT.

YOU KNOW, ONCE UPON A TIME, YOU KNOW, TALKING ABOUT REPARATIONS WAS A NON-STARTER.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT CONVERSATION HAS SHIFTED?

YOU KNOW, I THINK BE PRIMARILY BECAUSE OF THE BILL IS SHARING OF THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF THOSE FROM THE IMPACT, THE COMMUNITY INTO THAT.

AND I CAN'T STRESS CANNOT KNOW, STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE SHOWING UP THE SHARING THAT LIVED EXPERIENCE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW REPARATIONS SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN ILLINOIS AND WHY THIS ISSUE IS SO VITAL TO THE IMPACT THE COMMUNITY.

ALL RIGHT.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THESE HEARINGS AS THEY GO ON.

AND OF COURSE, WHEN THE COMMISSION DOES COME UP WITH ITS MARVIN SLAUGHTER, DANIEL DAVIS, THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US.

AND UP NEXT, HOW TO REDUCE MASS INCARCERATION IN THE U.S. MAKE W T TW YOUR HOME FOR 2024 CONVENTION COVERAGE.

FIND THE LATEST NEWS ON OUR WEBSITE AT W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS AND SPEND EACH CONVENTION NIGHT WITH US BEGINNING AT 05:30PM, WITH LIVE CHICAGO TONIGHT REPORTING AND ANALYSIS FROM THE CONVENTION BEFORE AND AFTER PBS NEWSHOUR IS PRIME TIME COVERAGE W T TW YOUR SOURCE FOR TRUSTED INDEPENDENT NEWS AND INFORMATION BLACK PEOPLE ARE INCARCERATED AT MUCH HIGHER RATES THAN THEIR WHITE COUNTERPARTS NATIONALLY.

THE INCARCERATION RATE FOR BLACK PEOPLE IS 6 TIMES HIGHER.

AND IN ILLINOIS, THE RATE JUMPS TO 7.5, ACCORDING TO THE PRISON POLICY INITIATIVE, RACIAL DISPARITIES ARE JUST ONE OF THE MANY TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THE NEW BOOK DISMANTLING MASS INCARCERATION, A HANDBOOK FOR CHANGE.

AND JOINING US NOW WITH MORE IS ONE OF THE COAUTHORS MARIA HOLLOW AND PROFESSOR AT LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO'S LAW SCHOOL.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE THAT OF COURSE MEANT WE SHOULD MENTION CO EDITED THIS BOOK AND CO-WROTE IT ALONG WITH 2 OTHER AUTHORS WHO ARE NOT WITH US RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE KNOW YES.

TELL US IF YOU WOULD ABOUT THE BOOK.

WHY DO I WANT TO BRING TOGETHER THIS COLLECTION OF IDEAS?

WELL, THANK YOU FOR ALLOWING US OR FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE AS YOU MENTIONED, I CAUGHT IT AT THIS WITH PROMOTE DARYA AND JAMES FOR MEN.

THE 3 OF US ARE FORMER PUBLIC DEFENDERS WASHINGTON, D.C., AND WHEN WE FIRST BEGAN WORKING AS PUBLIC I STARTED WORKING ABOUT 2 DECADES AGO AS A PUBLIC TENDER, THE CONVERSATION AROUND THE PRISON SYSTEM WAS VERY DIFFERENT THAN IT IS TODAY.

WE ARE PASSING LAWS TO LOCK UP MORE AND MORE PEOPLE FOR LONGER AND LONGER TIMES THE RATES OF DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT RACES IMPACTS WERE HIGHER.

EVEN THEN THE POLICIES WERE EVEN MORE PUNITIVE AND AS ICE FOR PROGRESS THROUGH MY CAREER AND I BEGAN TEACHING A COURSE ON MASS INCARCERATION.

THERE HAD BEEN A SHIFT IN THE CONVERSATION AND IN THE WE SAW THE LARGEST PROTESTS WORLDWIDE IN THE SUMMER OF 2020 AND THE CONVERSATION AROUND CRIMINAL JUSTICE AS A RACIAL JUSTICE AND CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUE REALLY BEGIN TO TAKE HOLD.

THE CONVERSATION WAS CHANGING AND WHAT WE WANTED TO SEE WHAT STUDENTS KEPT ASKING WAS WE UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES AND WE UNDERSTAND THE DESTRUCTION AND THE CONSEQUENCES CAUSED BY SYSTEM THAT LOCKS UP MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES THAT KEEPS THEM FROM THEIR FAMILIES.

THAT ESSENTIALLY DESTROYS COMMUNITIES AND HEALTH AND EDUCATION AND FUTURES.

HOW CAN WE DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?

WHAT CAN WE DO IN EACH OF KEEN TO IT?

FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, WHAT WHETHER WE WERE GIVING TALKS ARE TALKING TO STUDENTS ARE THINKING ABOUT IT AND REFLECTING ON OUR CAREERS.

AND SO THIS BOOK IS AN EFFORT BOTH TO HIGHLIGHT THOSE THE CHANGES OF PEOPLE AND ORDINARY PEOPLE AND SYSTEM AFTERS INTERSECTIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY AND, YOU KNOW, TO TO SHOW WHAT WHAT IS POSSIBLE IT.

SO IT'S A COLLECTION OF ESSAYS, PAPERS, WRITINGS FROM YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE OTHER SUBJECT MATTER.

EXPERTS LIKE YOURSELVES BROKEN DOWN INTO 6 POLICE PROSECUTORS, PUBLIC DEFENDERS, JUDGES, PRISONS, AND OF COURSE, AFTERMATH.

HOW DID YOU ARRIVE AT THOSE SPECIFIC TOPICS AND IN DIVISIONS OF THE SYSTEM?

SURE.

YOU KNOW, BOTH BECAUSE OF OUR WORK AS PUBLIC DEFENDERS BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITHIN THE SYSTEM AND OUR SORT OF WORK WEEK THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT ONE SYSTEM.

THERE ISN'T A SINGLE ACTOR OR PERSON OR BUREAUCRACY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CREATION AND GROWTH OF THIS PRISON SYSTEM IN JAIL SYSTEM.

AND SO WHAT WE WANTED TO SHOW WAS THIS SYSTEM IS REALLY BROKEN DOWN ALL THE WAY FROM WHEN PEOPLE FIRST COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE CRIMINAL SYSTEM.

THAT'S USUALLY POLICE IN ARRESTS ALL THE WAY THROUGH AND PAST PRISON BECAUSE MOST PEOPLE CONTINUE TO FEEL WHAT PROFESSOR MICHELLE ALEXANDER CALLED CIVIL DEATH.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS VAST SYSTEM AFTERMATH, THE INABILITY TO GET JOBS, THE INABILITY TO VOTE IN THIS AND SOME STATE AND ELECTIONS IN SOME STATES AND IN FEDERAL, THE INABILITY EVEN APPLY TO GET TRAINING IN CERTAIN FIELDS OR FIND HOUSING.

AND SO WE WANTED TO SHOW REALLY THAT THIS IS NOT A SYSTEM THAT CAN BE DISMANTLED BY ANYONE PARTICULAR BUT THAT THERE ARE TO INTERVENE AT ALL ALONG THE STRUCTURES.

IN THE PROSECUTOR SECTION, YOU KNOW, TO 2019 FROM THE REFLECTIVE DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGN REVEALING 95% OF OUR COUNTRY'S PROSECUTORS ARE WHITE AND 76% MALE.

WHAT IS THE IMPACT OF THAT LACK OF DIVERSITY ON THE SYSTEM?

DEFENDANTS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

AS YOU MENTIONED, THERE THAT THE SYSTEM ITSELF DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTS BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE, YOUNG BLACK MEN, BROWN PEOPLE.

AND WHEN THE ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ACTORS IN THE SYSTEM, THE PERSON TASKED OR THE OFFICE TESTS WITH CHARGING PEOPLE ISN'T REPRESENTATIVE OF THE COMMUNITY.

AFTER ALL, THE PROSECUTOR SPEAKS IN COMMUNITIES.

NAME.

THIS IS HOW ACCOUNTABILITY FOR HARM HAS BEEN CONDUCTED IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE DON'T GET THE SORT OF DIVERSITY AND THE HOLISTIC AND ACCOUNTABILITY TO ADDRESS THOSE HARMS THAT WE MIGHT WANT TO IF WE HAD A MORE TOUGHER A DIVERSE, PROSECUTION TEAM.

TALK ABOUT THE SHIFT TO PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTORS WHICH POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, EVERYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, OBVIOUSLY FOR POLITICAL REASONS, INCLUDING, OF COURSE, COOK COUNTY STATE'S TURNING KIM FOXX, WHO HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AMONG SORT OF A CROP OF A PROGRESSIVE TOP PROSECUTORS WHO POPPED UP IN THE LAST 8 ISH YEARS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO BE A PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTOR?

I BUT THE BOOK TRIES TO HIGHLIGHT IS THAT THERE ISN'T ANY SINGLE METRIC AND THERE ISN'T ONE SORT OF CLEAN LITMUS TEST THAT SAYS THIS PERSON OR THIS OFFICE IS PROGRESSIVE IN THIS OFFICE IS NOT PROGRESSIVE.

QUESTION IS, LOOK AT THAT.

THE PROSECUTORS PLAYED THIS INCREDIBLY IMPORTANT ROLE IN OUR SYSTEM.

THEY ENGAGED IN PLEA DEALS.

THEY PROVIDE DISCOVERY.

THEY MAKE THE CHARGING DECISION WHICH ULTIMATELY LEADS OFTENTIMES AT THE SENTENCING DECISIONS.

AND SO CAN WE DO THIS IN A MORE JUST WAIT.

CAN WE ADDRESS HARMS AND AND SAFETY AND DO SO IN A MORE JUST WAY.

AND THIS IS WHERE ORDINARY PEOPLE PAYING ATTENTION THEIR LOCAL ELECTIONS AND ORGANIZING AROUND, YOU KNOW, IS THIS PERSON GOING TO REALLY CONSIDER LIKE LARRY KRASNER DID IN PHILLY IN A MEMO TO HIS STAFF, MASS INCARCERATION AS ONE OF THE HARMS THAT NEEDS TO BE REDUCED.

THERE ARE PROSECUTORS WHO ARE DOING SO AND AND IT'S NOT A STRAIGHT LINE.

YOU SEE STOPS AND STARTS AND SETBACKS.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE OTHER POINT PUSH BACK.

YES.

AND SOME OF THEM TAKE CRITICISM AND PUSH BACK.

AND I THINK THAT'S THE OTHER POINT.

THE SYSTEM WASN'T BUILT IN A YEAR OR 2 YEARS OR 3 YEARS.

IT'S BEEN DECADES AND DECADES GOING ALL THE WAY BACK.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO DISMANTLE IT IN A YEAR OR 2 YEARS OR 3 YEARS.

WE NEED TIME AND OR WITH ONE PUBLIC DEFENDER WITH THAT'S THAT.

THAT'S SORT OF THE POINT IN ILLINOIS.

WE ALSO KNOW THAT BLACKS ARE OVER REPRESENTED IN THE STATE'S PRISONS.

OF COURSE, THEY MAKE UP 14% OF THE STATE'S POPULATION.

BUT THEY MAKE UP MORE THAN HALF OF BOTH PRISON AND JAIL POPULATIONS ACROSS THE STATE ILLINOIS.

YOU ALSO COMPARE US TO OTHER COUNTRIES.

WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM OTHER COUNTRIES?

PRISON SYSTEMS?

I THINK QUITE A IT WE WE HAVE A PIECE ON NORWAY AND THE PRISON SYSTEM IN ORO.

AND THERE'S A QUESTION ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IN THIS BOOK GRAPPLES WITH TENSIONS AND AND WE WELCOME THESE TENSIONS, WE DEBATED THEM OURSELVES AND WE WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO DEBATE THEM AS WELL.

IS ABOLITION THE RIGHT RESPONSE, PERHAPS OR SHOULD WE REFORM SOME OF THE CONDITIONS.

PEOPLE IN PRISON ARE LIVING UNDER INHUMANE CONDITIONS.

IN NORWAY, FOR INSTANCE, THERE HAS BEEN AN EFFORT TO PEOPLE BY THEIR NAMES TO LET THEM WEAR THEIR OWN CLOTHING.

THESE SEEM LIKE SMALL INCREMENTAL CHANGES.

BUT AS PEOPLE ARE GOING FROM HERE AND STUDYING THOSE TYPES OF CHANGES, WE CAN MAYBE LEARN SOMETHING FROM THEM.

HOW CAN WE APPLY THEM TO OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY?

HOW CAN WE HUMANIZE WHAT HAS BECOME AN INHUMANE AND OUTRAGEOUS?

SYSTEM?

YES, IT'S A NATION THAT IN MY COVERAGE OF PRISONS, I'VE HEARD A LOT ABOUT ABOUT THE WORK THAT THEY DO IN THEIR PRISON SYSTEMS ABOUT GET 10 SECONDS LEFT.

WHAT YOU WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THIS AND WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO THEMSELVES IF THEY WANT TO GET INVOLVED?

I THINK PEOPLE CAN DO I WHAT I WANT PEOPLE TO TAKE AWAY IS THAT THERE ARE PLACES TO GET IN EVERY PART, INCLUDING HOLDING BOOK CLUBS, LEARNING ABOUT TALKING AN ORGANIZING AROUND LOCAL ELECTIONS AND AND ALSO JUST STEPPING IN AND WATCHING WHAT'S GOING ON, PAYING ATTENTION TO THE NEWS LEARNING ABOUT THIS IS THE SYSTEM ATTENTION TO THE NEWS RIGHT HERE SO MUCH FOR THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

AND AGAIN, THE BOOK IS DISMANTLING MASS INCARCERATION, A HANDBOOK FOR CHANGE.

UP NEXT, HOW A LOCAL ORGANIZATION IS HELPING PEOPLE BUY THEIR FIRST HOME.

STORIES ABOUT CHICAGO.

HOME OWNERSHIP ARE SUPPORTED BY FUNDING FROM THE CHICAGO COMMUNITY.

TRUST.

PURCHASING A HOME NAVIGATING THE LOAN PROCESS AND FINDING THE BEST MORTGAGE RATE CAN BE STRESSFUL.

BUT ONE LOCAL ORGANIZATION IS WORKING TO BRIDGE THE GAP AND HELP PEOPLE PURCHASE THEIR FIRST HOME.

WE ORIGINALLY BROUGHT YOU THIS STORY EARLIER THIS YEAR.

HERE'S JOANNA HERNANDEZ WITH ANOTHER LOOK.

IT'S AN INCREDIBLE MOMENT OF JOY AND EXCITEMENT FOR NEWLY WHAT STEPHEN WELLS AND AMAZED BY THE WANTED TO OUR AS THEY'RE WELCOME TO THE BRAND NEW HOME.

I FEEL LIKE WE'RE BREAKING LIKE GENERATIONAL CURSES BY MY MOM.

DOESN'T YOU KNOW BECAUSE IT'S A PHONE CALL FROM THE ORGANIZATION RENEW THAT THEY SAY CHANGED THEIR LIVES.

SAME CALIFORNIA VISITING FAMILY THEY'RE LIKE CONGRATULATIONS.

YOU GUYS GOT APPROVED FOR THE PROGRAM AND EVEN BETTER NEWS.

WE HAVE A HOME READY FOR YOU, RIGHT TIME FOR YOUR WEDDING.

RENEW COMMUNITIES IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT IS REHABBING IN BUILDING NEW HOMES IN THE SUBURB OF NORTH CHICAGO.

TOM CORNING OVERSEES THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF WHAT THEY CALL MATTHEW HOMES.

SO YOU CAN SEE THAT EVERYTHING'S OPEN PLAN SO THAT THE FAMILY INTERACTS WITH EACH OTHER OPEN TO THE BASEMENT OPEN AND LIVING ROOM, DINING ROOM.

CHILDREN CAN SIT HERE AT THE BAR AND DO THEIR HOMEWORK.

WELL, MOM'S COOKING THOSE.

HOPING CATCH A VERY PURPOSEFUL.

YOU CAN SEE THE WINDOWS FACING OUTSIDER LARGE.

LOOKING OUT ONTO THE STREET AND THEN THE FRONT PORCH, OF COURSE, IS THE WELCOMING ASPECT OF THIS HOME TO DRAW A COMMUNITY TO THIS FAMILY.

I CAN HEAR THIS IS FOR THE COMMUNITY HAS LONG STRUGGLED WITH LOW HOMEOWNERSHIP RATES.

ONLY 33% OF RESIDENTS IN NORTH NO HOME, ACCORDING TO RENEW THAT THE YOUNG COUPLE SAYS PURCHASING THE FIRST PIECE OF PROPERTY IS AN OPPORTUNITY.

A LOT OF US WERE NOT PREPARE FOR ALL MONEY THAT IT TAKES TO SAVE UP FOR DOWN PAYMENTS, ABLE FOR PAYING ALL OF DIFFERENT FEES.

IF YOU HAVE TO PAY.

PLANNING A WEDDING.

SO THAT TAKES MONEY, TOO.

SO I'M LIKE, HOW ARE WE GOING FOR AWAITING PAIN TO DON'T PAY ME FOR A HOUSE?

SO IT WAS DEFINITELY A BLESSING TO BE ABLE TO HAVE THE PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH SUBCONTRACTORS AND VOLUNTEERS TO BUILD THESE HOMES AT THE HOME IS SOLD FOR ANYWHERE BETWEEN 175,000 IN $250,000 RENEWS ALEXA FAMILY TO HELP THEM THROUGH THE BUYING PROCESS CLOSING FEES.

THEN TRANSFORM CAPITAL ASSIST WITH THE MORTGAGE RATE, TRANSFORM CAPITAL, SAW THAT IT'S VERY DIFFICULT FOR SOME OF THEIR CLIENTS TO ACCESS FINANCING AT ATTRACTIVE RATES FOR A WHOLE HOST OF REASONS THAT CONTINUE TO THIS DAY.

AND SO WE CREATED TRANSFORM CAPITAL THAT STEPS AND ALONGSIDE RENEW.

AND WE TAKE DONATED CAPITAL.

WE TURN IT INTO BELOW MARKET MORTGAGES AND THEN LENDING IS JUST A REASON TO BE IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH FAMILIES.

AND SO WE WALK ALONGSIDE THEM AND AS THEY PAY THE LOAN, IT CREATES RECYCLABLE CAPITAL THAT SERVES ANOTHER NEIGHBOR.

THE ORGANIZATION IS ON A MISSION TO BUILD 300 HOMES IN THE COMMUNITY.

LONGTIME RESIDENT CHERYL DUNLAP SAYS IT'S A CHANCE FOR FAMILIES TO BUILD GENERATIONAL WEALTH WHILE CONTRIBUTING TO THE AREA'S DEVELOPMENT.

ANY FAMILY THAT IS WITHIN THIS PROGRAM.

THEY HAVE RESOURCES.

WE KNEW AS A RESOURCE.

THE OTHER MATTHEW HOME FAMILY OWNERS ARE RESOURCES AS WELL AS THE VOLUNTEER.

SO IT'S REALLY CREATING WHAT I FEEL A DIVERSE FAMILY.

HERE THE YOUNG COUPLE IS NOW LIVING IN THE GROUP 17TH HOME AND THEY SAY THEY'RE EXCITED TO CONTINUE TO BUILD OR ROOTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE IN THE FUTURE ACTS OF BABIES.

OH, ABSOLUTELY.

FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES.

I'M JOANNA HERNANDEZ.

THE ORGANIZATION CALLS THEM MATTHEW HOLMES REFERENCING A PASSAGE IN THE BIBLE SINCE WE FIRST BROUGHT YOU THE STORY, THE ORGANIZATION SAYS IT IS ABOUT TO DELIVER ITS 6TH HOME FOR INFORMATION ON HOW TO APPLY FOR HOME OR TO BE A VOLUNTEER.

PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE.

AND THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE W T TW DOT COM SLASH NEWS FOR THE VERY LATEST FROM W T TW NEWS AND JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES AND BRANDIS TREATMENT.

STAY HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A CLIFF AND CLIFFORD LAW, OFFICES CHICAGO, PERSONAL INJURY AND WRONGFUL DEATH.

THAT IS PROUD TO RECOGNIZE ITS FOUNDER AND SENIOR ROBERT WHO RANKED NUMBER ONE IN THE STATE OF BY SUPER LAWYERS.

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