JOINING US MY SAYS I'M BRANDIS FRIEDMAN.

HERE'S WHAT WE'RE LOOKING >> WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN SUFFERING?

>> ALLIES OF MAYOR JOHNSON BLOCK A VOTE TO TRANSFORM A FARCE OUTSIDE VACANT LOT INTO A MIGRANT SHELTER.

WHAT'S NEXT FOR THIS PROPOSAL?

HOW THE ELIMINATION OF CASH BAIL IS GOING MORE THAN ONE MONTH IN ONE ON ONE WITH COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX.

AND WRONGFULLY CONVICTED.

PEOPLE SPENT DECADES TRYING TO GET LEGAL REPRESENTATION WHILE INCARCERATED FIND OUT WHY IT TAKES SO LONG.

>> NOW TO SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES, MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON SAYS HE'S JOINING THE MAYORS OF 4 OTHER MAJOR CITIES HEADING TO DC TOMORROW ASKING TO MEET WITH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN OVER THE MIGRANT CRISIS.

IN A LETTER, THE MAYORS OF CHICAGO, DENVER, HOUSTON AND LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK SAY THE MIGRANTS ARE ARRIVING IN THEIR CITIES LITTLE TO NO COORDINATION SUPPORT OR RESOURCES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FEW ARE AVAILABLE WORK PERMITS.

MIGRANTS ARE ABLE TO FIND WORK TO PAY FOR PROPER HOUSING.

GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER TODAY DEFENDED THE STATE OF ILLINOIS RESPONSE IN SUPPORTING CHICAGO.

>> AND WE'VE SUPPORTED THE CITY OF CHICAGO WITH DIRECT DOLLARS TO DO THAT.

WE ALSO HAVE SPENT ALMOST 3 TIMES AS MUCH 2 TO 3 TIMES AS MUCH AS THEY HAVE ON ALL THE WRAPAROUND SERVICES, INCLUDING IMMIGRATION LAWYERS BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO GET THEM THE AUTHORIZATION SO THEY CAN GO TO WORK.

>> AND HAD A HAVE THE LATEST FROM CITY HALL ON THE MIGRANT CRISIS IN JUST A FEW MINUTES.

A LOCAL BUDGET WATCHDOG SAYS THE CITY'S PROPOSED 16.6 BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET FOR NEXT YEAR IS ON THE RIGHT TRACK.

THE CIVIC FEDERATION SAYS IT SUPPORTS MAYOR JOHNSON'S BUDGET PLAN BECAUSE IT MAINTAINS THE CITY'S COMMITMENT TO SUPPLEMENTAL PENSION PAYMENTS.

AVOIDS GENERAL TAX HIKES AND INCREASES CIVILIAN POSITIONS IN THE CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BUT THE GROUP RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT AN ONGOING STRUCTURAL IMBALANCE AS WELL AS THE GROWING COST OF CARE FOR MIGRANTS AND PROPOSED ENHANCEMENTS, A PENSION BENEFITS UNDER CONSIDERATION IN SPRINGFIELD.

ILLINOIS, SENATE DEMOCRATS ARE PROPOSING A NEW DISTRICT MAP FOR THE FUTURE ELECTED SCHOOL BOARD IN CHICAGO.

LEADERS SAY THIS MAP CONSIST OF 20 PROPOSED DISTRICTS, 7 MAJORITY BLACK, 6 MAJORITY LATINO, 5 MAJORITY WHITE DISTRICTS INTO COALITION DISTRICTS.

SENATE MAJORITY LEADER KIMBERLY LIGHT.

FIRTS SAYS THE NEW MAP AS A RESULT OF SUGGESTIONS MADE BY PUBLIC AND ADVOCACY GROUPS AND BETTER REFLECTS THE DIVERSITY OF THE CITY'S NEIGHBORHOODS.

THE DEADLINE FOR LAWMAKERS TO HAVE A FINAL MAP IS APRIL 1ST.

COMING UP IN THE PROGRAM, COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX ON THE FIRST MONTH OF NO CASH BAIL.

BUT UP NEXT, HEATHER, SURE.

ROAD IN THE LATEST ABOUT PLANS FOR MIGRANT SHELTER ON THE FAR SOUTH SIDE.

STAY WITH US.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT BLACK VOICES IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY 5TH 3005TH BANK AND BY THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> 3RD, WE BELIEVE WOULD DIVERSE VOICES ARE HEARD AND EMPOWERED COMMUNITIES ARE MADE STRONGER A FUTURE HOLDS GREAT PROMISE FOR ALL.

THAT'S WHY WE'RE PROUD TO SUPPORT CHICAGO.

TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES TOGETHER.

WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER.

WE CAN DRIVE CHANGE.

>> A PLAN TO TRANSFORM A VACANT GROCERY STORE AND PARKING LOT NEAR 100 15TH AND HALSTED INTO A MIGRANT SHELTER.

RAN INTO A BUZZ SAW OPPOSITION WEDNESDAY, FORCING SUPPORTERS TO DELAY A PLANNED VOTE.

MAYOR JOHNSON SAID HE REMAINS COMMITTED TO GETTING THE MORE THAN 2800 PEOPLE OFF THE FLOORS OF POLICE STATIONS IN THE COLD, CONCRETE OUTSIDE.

HE ALSO PLEDGED TO KEEP WORKING WITH THE CITY COUNCIL ON SOLUTIONS.

HEATHER SHARON JOINS US NOW WITH MORE HEAD OR YOU'VE BEEN FOLLOWING THIS IN THE PLAN TO BUY THE 67,000 SQUARE-FOOT VACANT, FORMER GROCERY STORE AND SURROUNDING 6.5 ACRES OF LAND HIT A BRICK WALL AFTER ALDERMAN RONNIE MOSLEY SAID THAT HE DIDN'T WANT A MIGRANT SHELTER IN HIS WARD.

HERE'S WHAT HE TOLD YOU BEFORE THE MEETING.

>> OUR COMMUNITY CAME OUT OF THE STRONG, SAID THAT THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT WE SO THERE'S STILL A LOT REACTION TO THAT.

AND A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE OUTSIDE?

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR OUR COMMUNITY THAT'S BEEN SUFFERING ASSASSIN TO TAKE ON MORE STAFF FOR HOW HOW WE BE MADE HOW HE MADE BETTER.

>> DID HIS OPPOSITION TURN THE TIDE AGAINST PLAN?

I THINK IT DID.

THERE ARE A CONCERTED GROUP OF OLDER PEOPLE, MANY OF THEM WHO REPRESENT BLACK WARDS THAT HAVE SEEN DECADES OF DISINVESTMENT HIGH CRIME AND GRINDING POVERTY WHO WANT MAYOR JOHNSON TO TAKE A NEW APPROACH FROM TOP TO BOTTOM TO HIS APPROACH TO THE MIGRANT CRISIS.

AS YOU KNOW, THE CITY COUNCIL ALSO HAS DECADES LONG TRADITION OF DEFERRING TO THE LOCAL ALDERPERSON OVER HIGH-PROFILE CONTROVERSIAL PROJECTS LIKE THIS.

AND SO WHEN RUNNING MOSTLY GOT UP AND SAID, MY COMMUNITY DOES NOT WANT THIS AND I CANNOT SUPPORT IT.

THAT GOES A LONG WAY WITH OLDER PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY THINK TO THEMSELVES WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE MAYOR WANTS TO PUT A MIGRANT SHELTER IN MY WARD WHERE I DON'T WANT IT.

THEY WANT ALDERMAN MOSLEY'S PHONE AND THAT'S WHY THEY GAVE HIS THEM HIS VOTE TODAY.

ALTHOUGH MAYORAL ALLIES WERE ABLE TO SEE HOW THE TIDE WAS TURNING BLOCK THE VOTE AND WILL LIVE TO FIGHT, PERHAPS ANOTHER DAY, OK?

SO IT'S BEEN VERY COLD THIS WEEK.

HEATHER, DOES THE CITY HAVE A PLAN FOR, AS YOU SAID, MORE THAN 3300 PEOPLE WHO ARE SLEEPING ON THE FLOORS OF POLICE STATIONS.

AND AT O'HARE.

SO REPORTERS PRESSED THE MAYOR.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

IS THERE A PLAN MORE THAN 2 MONTHS AGO, HE SAID THAT HE WOULD CREATE THESE WHEN TRICE BASE CAMPS TO GET THESE PEOPLE OFF THE STREET BEFORE THE WEATHER TURNED, HE SAID, LOOK, HE'S GOING TO KEEP WORKING.

THE STRATEGY REMAINS THE SAME.

AND THAT'S WHY, AS YOU REPORTED, HE'S GOING TO WASHINGTON, D.C., TOMORROW TO PLEAD FOR NOT JUST COLD HARD CASH, BUT MORE COORDINATION AT THE BORDER AND MORE HELP SORT OF GETTING THESE MIGRANTS ON THEIR FEET.

BEYOND THAT, DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE A PLAN B.

DESPITE THE SO WHAT'S NEXT FOR THIS PROPOSAL?

AS YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, WASN'T THERE SUPPOSED TO BE A VOTE?

ALSO ON THE BRING CHICAGO HOME PROPOSAL TODAY, TODAY WAS A CITY COUNCIL MEETING WERE NOT A LOT HAPPENED, BUT BOTH OF THOSE PROPOSALS COULD COME BACK FOR A VOTE ON TUESDAY AT THE CITY COUNCIL'S NEXT REGULAR MEETING.

I FEEL IT CERTAIN THAT THE BRING CHICAGO HOME PROPOSAL WILL GET A FINAL VOTE WHICH COULD SEND IT TO VOTERS IN MARCH.

WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE PROPOSAL FOR THE MIGRANT CENTER AT 115 HOLSTON I THINK IS VERY MUCH AN OPEN QUESTION AT THIS MOMENT.

I'M MORE TO COME HADASH AROUND.

THANKS SO MUCH.

THANKS, BRANDIS.

>> AND YOU CAN HIS FULL STORY ON OUR WEBSITE.

THAT'S WTW DOT COM SLASH NEWS.

UP NEXT, COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX ON THE ELIMINATION OF CASH BAIL.

STAY WITH US.

IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A MONTH SINCE ILLINOIS BECAME THE FIRST STATE TO ELIMINATE CASH BAIL ENTIRELY, ACCORDING TO THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, A TOTAL OF 649 DETENTION HEARINGS WERE REQUESTED IN THE FIRST MONTH WITH THE TENSION BEING GRANTED IN 60% OF THOSE CASES.

CASES INVOLVING MURDER, VEHICULAR HIJACKING AND ATTEMPTED MURDER HAD THE HIGHEST RATES OF DETENTION REQUESTS GRANTED AT 93 94 89% RESPECTIVELY.

MEANWHILE, ONLY 39% OF DOMESTIC BATTERY CASES WERE GRANTED DETENTION.

JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON THE FIRST MONTH WITHOUT CASH.

BAIL IS COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY KIM FOXX CAN WELCOME BACK.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

OF COURSE, COULD HAVE BEEN ME.

SO IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A MONTH SINCE THE ELIMINATION OF CASH BAIL IN ILLINOIS.

WOULD YOU SAY IT'S MEETING INTENDED GOALS?

ABSOLUTELY.

THE INTENTION WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO POSE A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY WERE ABLE TO BE DETAINED AND PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T WERE RELEASED AND THE NUMBERS ARE TELLING US MURDER ATTEMPT, MURDER VEHICULAR HIJACKING.

>> THOSE PEOPLE ARE BEING DETAINED.

PRE-TRIAL AND WE'RE SEEING LESS PEOPLE WHO ARE IN THE JAIL FOR NONVIOLENT LOW-LEVEL OFFENSES.

SO COOK COUNTY'S JAIL ACCORDING TO YOUR NUMBERS AS WELL.

RECENTLY DIPPED BELOW 5,000 FOR ONLY THE SECOND TIME IN NEARLY 4 DECADES.

>> BUT WE ALSO KNOW THAT THAT DROP IN POPULATION IN COOK COUNTY, PREDATES THE LAW'S IMPLEMENTATION.

WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT TO?

YEAH.

I THINK JUDGES FOR PREPARING IN ANTICIPATION OF THE PRETRIAL FAIRNESS ACT GOING INTO PLACE.

SEPTEMBER 18TH.

>> AND SO WE'RE SEEING THOSE NUMBERS DIP.

AND THEN I THINK, AGAIN, WE'RE SEEING CASES WHERE PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT GOING TO BE DETAINED WERE NOT BEING HELPED.

AND SO THOSE NUMBERS, LOW-LEVEL NONVIOLENT OFFENSES, THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT LANGUISHING FOR EVEN A DAY OR 2.

SO THAT'S WHY THAT DAILY POPULATION STAYING LOW.

WHAT HAS IT TAKEN FAR AS SORT OF GETTING USED TO IT FOR YOUR STAFF WITH REGARDS TO TRAINING SAME THING WITH THE REST OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND JUDGES.

AND IT'S SOME GOOD NEWS, TOO.

>> IT IS.

I MEAN, WE'VE BEEN PREPARING FOR ALMOST 18 MONTHS BEFORE THE IMPLEMENTATION HAPPENED.

I WILL SAY, THE PEOPLE OF COOK COUNTY SHOULD BE REALLY PROUD OF THE CORONATION COLLABORATION BETWEEN OUR OFFICE, THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, THE SHERIFF, THE JUDICIARY.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THE FIRST WEEK SOMETHING SO MONUMENTAL YOU KNOW, WE KNEW WE WERE GOING TO SEE SOME ROUGH SPOTS.

BUT OVERALL, I THINK IT HAS BEEN RELATIVELY SEAMLESS GIVEN THE GRAVITY OF WHAT WE'RE DOING.

AS WE MENTIONED, A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVOR ADVOCATES.

THEY HAVE SAID THAT THE PRETRIAL FAIRNESS ACT, WHAT SUPPORT SURVIVORS THROUGH VARIOUS MEANS NUMBERS FROM YOUR OFFICE DO SHOW THAT ONLY 39% OF THOSE FACING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CHARGES WERE DETAINED SINCE DOMESTIC BATTERY IS OFTEN CONSIDERED A MISDEMEANOR.

IS THERE MORE THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO SUPPORT THOSE SURVIVORS?

YOU KNOW, I THINK WHAT WE ALSO HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND IS EVEN THOUGH THAT NUMBER IS RELATIVELY LOW COMPARED TO THE OTHER CASES, THOSE ARE MORE CASES OF DOMESTIC BATTERY.

PEOPLE BEING DETAINED THEM BEFORE.

SO HISTORICALLY, MOST OF THOSE BECAUSE THEY WERE CONSIDERED MISDEMEANORS, THOSE OR THOSE WHO ARE ACCUSED WERE ABLE TO GO WHILE POSTING BAIL.

AND SO WHILE IT PALES IN COMPARISON WITH THOSE OTHER CASES, IT IS A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE BEING DETAINED, WHO ARE A THREAT TO SURVIVORS THAN BEFORE.

SO CERTAINLY WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE'RE FILING DETENTION HEARINGS THAT WE'RE DOING THAT ON BEHALF OF OUR SURVIVORS WHO ASKING FOR THEM AND DOING A GOOD JOB OF EDUCATING THE JUDGE AS TO WHY THAT PERSON POSES A THREAT TO THAT VICTIM INTO THE COMMUNITY.

WOULD YOU SAY THAT THE JUDGES ARE ARE TAKING THIS AS SERIOUSLY AND AND MAKING THE SAME WAY THE REST OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HAS AND AGAIN, I THINK IT'S NEW, I THINK BECAUSE HISTORICALLY THESE ARE CASES THERE WERE CONSIDERED TO BE MISDEMEANORS OR LOW-LEVEL VIOLENCE AND THE JUDGES ARE ACCLIMATING.

AND SO WE'RE SEEING MORE PETITIONS BEING FILED ABOUT A 20% MORE A DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES THAT ARE COMING IN.

THEY'RE BEING ASKED FOR PEOPLE TO BE HELD.

AND SO I THINK WE'LL SEE A CORRELATION IN THE NUMBER OF THOSE PEOPLE BEING GOING FORWARD.

OF COURSE, THE LAW ALSO ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE CURRENTLY BEING HELD IN DETENTION TO REQUEST A FOR A REEXAMINATION.

>> WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE DETENTION REVIEW REQUESTS FROM DETAINEES WHO ARE IN THE JAIL PRIOR TO ELIMINATION OF CASH CERTAINLY THAT'S UP TO THE PUBLIC DEFENDER'S OFFICE WHO REPRESENTS THE BULK OF THE DEFENDANTS IN THE JAIL.

WE ALSO HAVE OF THE PRIVATE BAR AND WE TAKE THEM ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.

AND SO OUR ASSISTANCE ARE LOOKING AT THOSE REQUESTS SEEN IF THAT PERSON, WHAT IS THE CHARGE?

DO WE BELIEVE THEY POSE A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY IN THOSE INSTANCES?

WILL TO SOMEONE BEING RELEASED.

BUT IT'S CASE BY CASE AND LARGELY WE'RE THE OF DEFENSE BAR PUBLIC DEFENDER BEING JUDICIOUS IN ASKING FOR THOSE HEARINGS.

SO WE'LL SEE.

BUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE A RUN ON PEOPLE ASKING TO BE RELEASED.

THAT HAS NOT COME TO PLAY WHAT DOES THIS LEGISLATION DOES OPPOSE ANY CHALLENGES THAT YOU HADN'T ANTICIPATED NEW REALIZATIONS THAT ARE LIKE, OH, WE HAVE TO FIX THIS NOW.

>> STILL EARLY TO AND CERTAINLY WE ARE PREPARED TO COURSE, CORRECT.

>> ANYTHING THAT IS IN ANY MAKING OUR COMMUNITIES LESS SAFE ARE POSING AN ONEROUS BURDEN ON A SURVIVOR'S.

WE CERTAINLY WANT TO ADDRESS.

BUT SO FAR, YOU KNOW, WE'RE MEETING REGULARLY.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT STICKING POINT WHEN WE FIND THAT THERE ARE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE WE WE EXAMINED WE'RE PREPARED TO DO SO.

SOME ADVOCATES FOR PRETRIAL THE FOR THE ACTS THAT HAVE BEEN WARY, THAT JUDGES WOULD RATHER THAN, OF COURSE, THERE'S NO CASH BAIL THAT A LOT OF FOLKS WOULD END UP ON ELECTRONIC FOR THOSE FOLKS WHO WERE NOT BEING ABLE TO BE HELD >> IS YOUR OFFICE SEEING MUCH OF THAT?

IS IT'S STILL A CONCERN.

I'M CERTAIN THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THAT.

BUT THAT HAS BEEN BORNE OUT IN ANY WAY AT THE NUMBERS HAVE REMAINED RELATIVELY STEADY IN MAY BE VERY SLIGHT DIP.

>> AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON ELECTRONIC MONITORING.

AND SO I THINK WE WERE GEARING UP IN ANTICIPATING THAT THAT MIGHT BE BE OFFSET.

IF YOU'RE NOT HELD IN CUSTODY, THEN THEY'LL PUT YOU ON A BRACELET.

BUT THE NUMBERS FAR HAVE NOT BORNE THAT OUT.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE WERE OFF ALSO CONCERNED THAT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO WALK FREE THAN THEY WOULD BACK OUT.

>> POTENTIALLY COMMITTING OTHER CRIMES.

HAVE OTHER FOLKS, YOU KNOW, HAVE YOU HAD TO PRESS MORE PEOPLE WHO WERE ALREADY AWAITING EDUCATION SO FAR THAT HAS BEEN BORNE OUT, MEANING KEEPING IN MIND, IT'S ONLY BEEN ABOUT 5 BUT WE'VE NOT SEEN AN UPTICK IN PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTING NEW CRIMES.

ARE PEOPLE NOT RETURNING TO THEIR COURT DATE?

AND SO I THINK THE FEAR-MONGERING THAT HAPPENED THIS BILL WENT INTO EFFECT OF THE JAILS.

WE'RE GOING TO BE EMPTIED AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE RUNNING.

THE STREETS IS NOT BORNE OUT.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN IS THAT PEOPLE HAVE POSED A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY ARE NOW BEING DETAINED AND AS THEY SHOULD AND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT A THREAT ARE ALLOWED TO GO AND LIVE THEIR LIVES AND COME BACK AND BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE WITHOUT HAVING TO USE OUR RESOURCES GETTING A LITTLE BIT.

WE KNOW THAT ILLINOIS LEADS THE COUNTRY WITH THE MOST EXONERATIONS AND YOU DO IT HAD HAD AN EVENT ON THIS EARLIER THIS MONTH EARLIER IN OCTOBER.

I SHOULD SAY.

>> DATA SHOWS THAT THAT, YOU KNOW, THE STATE STILL HAS A VERY HIGH FALSE CONFESSION RATE.

THERE'S BEEN SOME YOU KNOW, FROM ADVOCATES OF FOLKS WHO ARE HANDLING SOME OF THOSE OLD WRONGFUL CONVICTION TRIALS THAT SOMETIMES YOUR OFFICE MOVES A BIT SLOWLY AND GETTING BACK TO IN IN IN COURT CASES.

WHAT WOULD YOU SAY YOUR OFFICE IS DOING TO SPEED THOSE CASES UP?

YEAH.

I WAS SENDING REMIND FOLKS THAT FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS OUT OF OUT OF 6, ILLINOIS HAS LED THE COUNTRY IN THE VACATING OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS.

>> LARGELY BY THE WORK OF OUR OFFICE.

AND WE HAVE, AS YOU SAID, WE HAVE A LONG STORIED HISTORY WITH LAWFUL CONVICTIONS AND REEXAMINING THESE REQUIRES METICULOUS ATTENTION.

AND SO IT IS SLOWER BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CASES THAT ARE 10, 15, 2030, YEARS OLD AND REQUIRE A DUE BECAUSE IN MANY INSTANCES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CASES OF MURDER.

AND THERE'S A VICTIM'S FAMILY WHO WANTS TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN WE SAY WE GOT IT WRONG, FACT, GOT IT WRONG.

AND SO WE ARE PEOPLE TO THOSE ROLES TO THE CONVICTION INTEGRITY UNIT TO OUR POST CONVICTION UNIT, A ROTATING PEOPLE IN AND OUT TO GET FRESH PERSPECTIVES ON THAT.

BUT MAKING SURE THAT WE DO OUR DUE DILIGENCE, WE WANT TO BE EXPEDITIOUS, BUT WE CERTAINLY WANT TO BE DILIGENT IN OUR IT'S BEEN A FEW MONTHS MAYOR JOHNSON HAS TAKEN OFFICE AND A FEW SINCE A SUPERINTENDENT OF CHICAGO POLICE DEPARTMENT, LARRY SNELLING HAS BEEN IN HIS JOB.

>> HOW WOULD YOU COMPARE WORKING TO THESE 2 DIFFERENT YOU KNOW, FORMER MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND FORMER POLICE SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN.

YOU KNOW, MAYOR JOHNSON IS APPRECIATIVE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO DEALING WITH CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT WE NEED TO DEAL INCIDENTS AS THEY HAPPEN.

BUT WE ALSO NEED TO INVEST YOU KNOW, THE ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENT CRIME AND THAT NARRATIVE, THAT CONVERSATION IS ONGOING.

>> AND I BELIEVE HIM WHEN HE SAYS THAT HE'S PUTTING THE WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND SUPERINTENDENT SNELLING.

I FIND BECAUSE HE HAS A HISTORY OF HAVING WORKED IN FOR DECADES THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH HE SERVED.

HE COMES FROM THE INGLEWOOD COMMUNITY HAS A DEPTH OF UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES BOTH EXTERNALLY AND WITHIN CPD.

THAT DIFFERENT.

THEN A SUPERINTENDENT WHO COMES FROM A DIFFERENT PLACE.

AND SO SO FAR IT HAS BEEN AND I ANTICIPATE WILL BE ONGOING, REALLY ROBUST, FRUITFUL WORKING RELATIONSHIP.

OKAY.

LOOKING FORWARD TO A LITTLE BORED.

HAVE YOU BACK STATE'S ATTORNEY'S KIM FOXX, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THANK YOU.

COURSE.

>> NEXT USING TECHNOLOGY TO CONNECT PEOPLE IN PRISON TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

IT'S A CONVERSATION RECORDED EARLIER.

STAY WITH US.

MORE THAN 3300 WRONGFULLY CONVICTED.

PEOPLE HAVE BEEN EXONERATED SINCE 1989.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN'S NATIONAL REGISTRY OF EXONERATIONS AND THAT TIME ON THE INSIDE ADDS UP TO MORE THAN 30,000 YEARS UNJUSTLY SPENT IN PRISON FOR MANY OF THOSE PEOPLE.

A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THOSE YEARS WERE SPENT TRYING TO FIND LEGAL REPRESENTATION TO MAKE A CASE FOR THEIR EXONERATION, A PROCESS THAT IS COMPLICATED, DIFFICULT AND ABOVE ALL, LENGTHY.

JOINING US NOW, OUR MICHELLE MBEKI, ARNIE SENIOR LEGAL AND POLICY ADVISER FOR JUSTICE REFORM IN THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE.

SHE'S ALSO THE FOUNDER AND CEO OF PERIOD, A PLATFORM THAT CONNECTS PEOPLE IN PRISON WITH LEGAL REPRESENTATION.

TRAIL SWIFT AND EXONEREE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED FOR 15 YEARS AND PERIOD ADVISORY BOARD CHAIR AND WRONGFUL CONVICTION.

ATTORNEY LAURA KNIGHT RIDER THANKS TO THE 3 OF YOU FOR JOINING US.

MICHELLE BECKY ON AN ILLINOIS.

HOW ARE PEOPLE GOING ABOUT FINDING LEGAL REPRESENTATION WHILE INCARCERATED?

WELL, TO MANY SURPRISE ARE RELYING SOLELY SNAIL MAIL.

>> OF CURRENTLY WE'RE SEEING THAT A LOT OF INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE CURRENTLY INCARCERATED EITHER FINE ATTORNEY FOR WORD OF MOUTH OR FAMILY MEMBER REACHING OUT TO ATTORNEY FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE THAT CONNECTION TO THE OUTSIDE.

THE SEND LETTERS OFTENTIMES SENDING DOZENS HUNDREDS OF LETTERS BLIND COLD CALLING ESSENTIALLY TO FIND ATTORNEY TO REVIEW THEIR CASE AND THAT PROCESS, THEY'RE WRITING LETTERS TELLING THEM ABOUT THEIR CASE.

BUT OFTEN TIMES ATTORNEYS ARE NOT INFORMED OF THE INFORMATION THAT'S NECESSARY TO ONE IDENTIFY WHO THEY ARE IN THE SYSTEM A LOT OF ROBERTS MISS OF THE WORLD TO WHAT THEIR ISSUE IS TO BE ADDRESSED AND 3, HOW TO MOVE FORWARD WITH FAMILY MEMBERS ON THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.

THAT TAKES A LOT OF TIME.

A LOT OF A STAFFING AND IT'S VERY COSTLY AND TIME-CONSUMING FOR THOSE WHO ARE INCARCERATED.

>> TOMORROW, YOU ARE ONE OF THE SO-CALLED THE BEFORE ENGLEWOOD TEENAGERS.

ONCE UPON A TIME CALLED ENGLEWOOD FOR WRONGFULLY CONVICTED FOR 1994 RAPE AND IN 1988, CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT WAS YOUR EXPERIENCE WHEN YOU'RE INCARCERATED TRYING TO FIND THAT REPRESENTATION?

>> IT WAS IT WAS A LONG BATTLE.

AND I STARTED STARTED MY QUEST OF WRITING ATTORNEYS AND, YOU KNOW, SEEKING HELP IN 1998, AND I GET AND YOU WANT TO REALLY TAKE MY CASE UNTIL AND I WAS SCHEDULED TO BE RELEASED IN SO THAT WAS A LONG PROCESS.

AND I'M THINKING LIKE BACK THEN IT'S THAT WAS THE 10, 12 YEAR PROCESS FOR ME BACK THEN.

>> WITH THE INVESTMENT OF TECHNOLOGY NOWADAYS YOU CAN PROBABLY ADD ANOTHER 10, 15 YEARS ON TOP OF THAT.

AND I DID IN TIMES OF SOMEONE TRYING TO GET HELP TODAY.

THE MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, RIGHT OR SNAIL MAIL AS MICHELLE JUST, YOU KNOW, AS YOU PUT WE'RE NOT RIGHT OR THE U.S. PRISON POPULATION STANDS AT 2.3 MILLION.

SOME STUDIES ESTIMATE BETWEEN 2 AND 10%, WHICH, YEAH, IT'S A BIG DIFFERENCE RIGHT THERE.

8 1% TO BE SPECIFIC.

>> BUT BEEN 2.10% OF THEM ARE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED.

WHICH WOULD MEAN ABOUT PEOPLE OR TO 46,000 TO 230,000 PEOPLE.

>> ARE THERE ENOUGH ATTORNEYS IN THE WORLD WORKING ON WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS TO MAKE A DENT IN THOSE KIND OF NUMBERS?

YOU KNOW, WE CAN NEVER HAVE TOO MANY PEOPLE WORKING ON THE PROBLEM OF WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS RIGHT THERE.

WE KNOW RIGHT NOW.

>> OF OVER 3,000 CASES OF PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN EXONERATED MANY LOSING DECADES OF THEIR LIVES.

AND THESE ARE FOLKS WHO HAVE SENT THE PROVERBIAL MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE RIGHT LETTER AFTER LETTER AFTER LETTER, 2 ATTORNEYS AND JOURNALISTS, WHOMEVER THEY HOPE.

WE'LL LISTEN RIGHT NOW.

THERE'S ABOUT 72 INNOCENCE ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS THE PLANET THAT'S ON THE GLOBE.

ONLY ABOUT 72, MANY OF WHICH ARE STAFFED WITH 2 ATTORNEYS HERE.

3 ATTORNEYS THERE FOR ATTORNEYS.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THE NONPROFIT'S, SOME OF THEM HOUSE AT UNIVERSITIES.

THIS IS A TREMENDOUS START.

A TREMENDOUSLY POWERFUL, DEDICATED COMMITTED GROUP OF ADVOCATES.

BUT THE NUMBERS OF LAWYERS OUT THERE ARE SMALL AND THE DEMAND, UNFORTUNATELY, FOR THIS KIND OF LEGAL REPRESENTATION IS WAY TOO HIGH.

MICHELLE, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE OTHER BARRIERS FOR THE WRONGFULLY IMPRISONED WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO GET BACK INTO THE COURTROOM?

>> I MEAN, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE TEND TO TAKE FOR GRANTED IS JUST THE COST TO SEND OUT A LETTER TO GIVE AN EXAMPLE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND THEIR PRESENCE.

YOU GET ONE STAMP EVERY 5 DAYS.

IT COULD BE NO MORE THAN ONE OUNCE.

SO ESSENTIALLY INDIVIDUAL INCARCERATED TRYING TO GET AT LEAST ONE PERSON TO LISTEN TO THIS STORY HAS 6 PAGES TO PUT ALL THAT INFORMATION.

THAT'S JUST TO GET YOUR STORY OUT.

I'VE HEARD STORIES OF INDIVIDUALS INCARCERATED WHO FORGO COMMISSAR, CALM, SERENE, EATING JUST TO GET AS MANY LETTERS OUT AS POSSIBLE.

OFTEN TIMES SAYING YOU JUST NEED ONE PERSON TO LISTEN.

BUT IN THAT PURSUIT OF ONE PERSON TO LISTEN, OFTENTIMES TAKES UP TO A DECADE OR EVEN MORE.

SO THAT'S JUST THE KIND OF THE COST SIDE FOR INDIVIDUALS INCARCERATED TO ROLL.

ONCE YOU DID CONNECT TO LEGAL HELP, WHAT WAS WHAT WAS THAT LIKE WHEN YOU'RE COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR LEGAL TEAM?

>> IN TERMS WHAT WAS IT LIKE AND HOW HOW DID YOU COMMUNICATE WITH AND THEN AND WHAT WE'RE WHAT WAS THAT NEXT PROCESS?

THE NEXT PART OF THE PROCESS IT WAS?

>> YOU KNOW, FOR ME, IT WAS WHEN WHEN YOU'RE YOU KNOW, WRONGFULLY CONVICTED AND YOU ARE PREACHING NOW FOR SOMEONE LISTEN.

JUST WANT SOMEONE TO LISTEN AND HEAR OUR VOICE.

AND ONCE I FINALLY GOT THAT REPRESENTATION HAVE THAT VOICE TO BE IN FRONT OF THE COURTROOMS BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT I NEEDED.

I NEEDED SOMEONE TO HEAR MY STORY AND BE VOICE FRONT OF THIS COURT ROOM BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU LEGALLY WHAT THEY DID, BUT IT WAS WRONG.

YOU IT WAS IT WAS IT WAS, YOU KNOW, IT WAS DEFINITELY A LONG PROCESS, BUT IT WAS GRATIFYING.

IT IS GRATIFYING WHEN YOU GET THAT HELP BECAUSE YOU'RE FIGHTING YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS FOR SOMEONE JUST TO LISTEN.

>> THE HEARTBREAKING THING ABOUT THE PRODUCT PRACTICING AS AN INNOCENCE ATTORNEY AT SO MANY DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THERE ARE BACKLOGS OF HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS OF LETTERS, PIECES OF PAPER TORN OUT OF A NOTEBOOK HANDWRITTEN LETTERS THAT COME IN FROM STATES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, SOMETHING OTHER COUNTRIES.

AND JUST THE MERE TASK OF SORTING THROUGH THAT MAIL AND BEING ABLE TO CORRESPOND MUCH LESS ENGAGE WITH THE FACT THAT EVERY CASE AND GET TO KNOW EACH PERSON HAS THE HUMAN BEING THAT THEY ARE.

IT'S AN ENORMOUSLY DAUNTING TASK FOR FOR WRONGFUL CONVICTION I MENTIONED ALSO INDICATE THAT THERE ARE FAR MORE PEOPLE WRONGFULLY CONVICTED IN PRISON.

THEN WE MICHELLE WIE MENTIONS THAT YOU'RE LAUNCHING A DIGITAL PLATFORM TO CIRCUMVENT SOME OF THESE BARRIERS THAT WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT, THE PERIOD AT BRIEFLY BECAUSE WE'RE ALMOST OF TIME.

TELL US HOW IT WORKS.

PLEASE.

>> SO SHE DIGITAL PLATFORM FOR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT AND ADDRESSES THAT FINDING ATTORNEY AND MATCH WITH ATTORNEY.

>> THE PERSON WHO'S INCARCERATED HELP SOMEONE FIND THE ATTORNEY, THE UNIVERSE OF ATTORNEYS THAT CAN TAKE ON THEIR CASE INFORM THE ATTORNEY OF NECESSARY INFORMATION TO ASSESS THEIR CASE, GIVES THEM FEEDBACK ON WHETHER THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE ON THE CASE FOR THE ATTORNEYS, WHICH IS A HUGE VALUE PROPOSITION ONE FIND THOSE CLIENTS ARE TRYING TO REACH OUT TO THEM IN A FAST MANNER TO BE INFORMED OF WHAT THE INFORMATION WE NEED ON THEIR CASE.

ALSO TO REVIEW THAT INFORMATION AND RESPOND TO THEM IN A TIMELY MATTER.

ESPECIALLY DOES IS MINIMIZE THE COSTLY TO GET MORE TIMELY, ADMINISTRATIVE IN TAKE TEST SO WE CAN EXPEDITE THAT PROCESS FOR THEM TO FIGHT FOR THE CLIENTS.

OKAY.

ALMOST KIND OF LIKE DATING.

BUT FOR SO EXACT USER EXPERIENCE THAT I USE, YOU KNOW, WHICH IS FAMILIAR AND USER FRIENDLY.

>> BECAUSE PEOPLE KNOW HOW TO NAVIGATE THAT.

SO HOW CAN I THAT?

THAT'S EASY FOR ATTORNEYS TO NAVIGATE THAT.

THAT'S VERY MORE INTUITIVE.

THAT'S WHERE WE'LL HAVE TO LEAVE BEST OF LUCK TO YOU AND THANKS FOR JOINING US, MICHELLE AND BECKY.

I NEED ALSO HAVE LEARN.

RIGHT.

THANKS, THANK BACK WITH MORE CHICAGO TONIGHT.

BLACK VOICES RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> AND >> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 5, 30 10 FOR CHICAGO TONIGHT, LATINO VOICES.

A LOOK AT THE CONDITIONS MIGRANTS FACE AS TEMPERATURES DROP MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS WEIGH IN.

AND THE LEGACY OF DANNY SOTOMAYOR AHEAD OF THE NEXT EPISODE OF CHICAGO STORIES FOCUSING ON THE LATE CHICAGO AIDS ACTIVIST.

AND NOW FOR ALL OF US HERE AT CHICAGO TONIGHT, BLACK VOICES AND BRANDIS FRIEDMAN, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

HEALTHY AND SAFE.

HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

>> CLOSED CAPTIONING IS MADE POSSIBLE BY ROBERT A AND LONG LINES A PERSONAL INJURY LAW