>>> HEY EVERYONE, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US ON CHICAGO TONIGHT.

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

BRANDIS FRIEDMAN IS ON ASSIGNMENT.

>> WHAT IS SO FEARFUL ABOUT HAVING A SYSTEM THAT IS FAIR AND JUST?

A MAJOR CHANGE TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM GETS UNDERWAY ON THE FIRST DAY OF NO CASH BAIL ILLINOIS.

WE GO INSIDE THE CRIMINAL COURTS BUILDING TO SEE WHAT HAS CHANGED.

TWO DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES, A SUBURBAN STATES ATTORNEY ANDY SHERIFF.

>>> THE CITY HAS HAD A POLICE MISCONDUCT ALERT SYSTEM AT THE READY FOR YEARS.

WHY OFFICIALS HAVE NOT GIVEN THAT THE GREEN LIGHT.

>> MEAT AND POTATOES, RANCH DRESSING, WHICH WE ALL LOVE , BUT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO IT THAN THAT.

>>> IN A SURPRISING HISTORY OF MIDWESTERN FOOD, SOME OF TODAY'S TOP STORIES AS WE MENTIONED , ILLINOIS BECOMES THE FIRST STATE IN THE COUNTRY TO ELIMINATE CASH BAIL.

GETTING TODAY PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR CRIMES ACROSS THE STATE WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO PAY CASH FOR BAIL WHILE THEY AWAIT TRIAL.

HE CAN STILL DENY PRETRIAL RELEASE IF DEFENDANTS ARE FILLED ¿ CHARGED WITH CERTAIN FELONIES ARE POSED AS A WHITE-- FLIGHT RISK.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF STORIES WRITTEN ABOUT OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM HERE IN ILLINOIS.

THERE'S A LOT OF DARK MARKS, SOME LEGACY AND HISTORY .

THAT THIS COURTHOUSE HAS SEEN A LOT OF HARM.

TODAY, WE CELEBRATE.

WE CELEBRATE WHAT IS POSSIBLE WHEN WE PUT OUR VALUES AND OUR BRAVERY AND OUR CONSTITUENTS FIRST.

>> WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MUCH MORE ON THE IMPACT COMING UP LATER IN THE PROGRAM.

>>> TWO DOZEN PEOPLE WERE SHOT BUT THERE WERE 0 HOMICIDES ACROSS THE WEEKEND ACROSS CHICAGO, THAT IS.

ACCORDING TO CHICAGO POLICE 24 PEOPLE WERE SHOT IN 20 SEPARATE INCIDENTS BETWEEN FRIDAY AND SUNDAY IN SITTING-- EVENING.

TWO TEENAGERS WERE STABBED DURING AN INCIDENT JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT SUNDAY DOWNTOWN.

BOTH WERE REPORTED HOSPITALIZED AND IN FAIR CONDITION.

MAYOR JOHNSON RESPONSE TO CRITICISM OVER LAST-MINUTE DOWNTOWN STREET CLOSURES BECAUSE OF SAFETY CONCERNS OVER MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATIONS THAT HAPPENED THIS WEEKEND.

AFTER INITIALLY SAYING NO STREET CLOSURES WERE PLANNED, CHICAGO'S OFFICE OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATION ANNOUNCED CLOSURES ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY EVENINGS WITH LITTLE WARNING.

IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION OVER THE CLOSURES, JONATHAN PRAISED THE CELEBRATION BUT SAID HE ALSO HAD PUBLIC SAFETY RESPONSIBILITY.

>> THE BALANCE IS , WE CELEBRATE CULTURE, AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE ACCESS TO HOSPITALS AND CLINICS AND ALL OF THE TYPE OF MOVEMENT THAT TAKES PLACE DAY TODAY WHETHER IT'S A CELEBRATION GOING ON OR NOT .

I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HEALTH CRISES OR ANY EMERGENCY THAT WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO THAT.

>> CONSTRUCTION BEGINS ON A BRAND-NEW 90,000 FT.÷ COMMUNITY CENTER IN WOODLAWN.

PROJECT HUD ANNOUNCED COMMANDMENT -- COMMENCEMENT OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CENTER.

THEY SEE THE NEW FACILITY WILL FEATURE A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDING VOCATIONAL TRAINING AS WELL AS MENTORSHIP OR OTHER COMMUNITY SERVICE.

>>> UP NEXT, A LOOK INSIDE COOK COUNTY COURT ROOMS ON THE DAY THAT CASH BAIL ENDS IN ILLINOIS.

IT'S ALL RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ALEXANDER AND JOHN NICHOLS.

THE POLK BROTHERS FOUNDATION AND THE SUPPORT OF THESE DONORS.

>> AS WE'VE SAID MULTIPLE TIMES TODAY, THIS IS THE FIRST DAY THAT COURTROOMS ACROSS ILLINOIS ELIMINATED CASH BAIL, SO WHAT WAS IT LIKE ON THE GROUND AND IN COURT ROOMS?

WE WERE AT THE CRIMINAL COURT HOUSE AT 26th AND CALIFORNIA IN COOK COUNTY AND MATT JOINS US NOW.

I UNDERSTAND ONE JUDGE SAID THIS WAS A MASSIVE SHIFT THAT NEEDS TO BE TURNED AND IF IT DOES NOT, THEY EXPECT A LITTLE MAYHEM AT THE OUTSET.

YOU WERE AT THE COURTHOUSE TODAY.

ANY MAYHEM?

NO, THINGS MOVE PRETTY SMOOTHLY, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED FOR SUCH A DRASTIC CHANGE.

THERE WERE DIFFERENT HEARINGS HAPPENING IN DIFFERENT COURTROOMS AND SOME TIMING THINGS THAT WERE DIFFERENT BEFORE BUT THINGS OVERALL SEEMED TO GO FIND.

I DID NOT SEE ANY DELAYS, I SAID IN A COUPLE OF COURTROOMS TODAY , HEARINGS MOVED ON A FAIRLY NORMAL PACE.

NO ONE WAS LEFT BEHIND, THEY GOT THROUGH ALL THE HEARINGS AS THEY NORMALLY WOULD AND THERE DID NOT SEEM TO BE ANY HOLD UP.

CASH BAIL WAS SUPPOSED TO GO AWAY AT THE START OF THE YEAR, RIGHT?

SO IT'S NOT A SURPRISE WITH EXTRA NINE MONTHS OF LEEWAY THAT ATTORNEYS ON THE DEFENSE AND PROSECUTION SIDE HAD A EXTRA TIME TO REALLY GET THIS READY TO GO.

>> THESE BOND HEARINGS USUALLY GO RAPIDFIRE.

USUALLY LESS THAN ONE MINUTE, THE HEARING IS OVER.

THERE IS SOME KIND OF RESOLUTION .

DID THAT TAKE ANY LONGER TODAY?

>> IT DEPENDED ON THE COURTROOM.

SOME HAD ALREADY BEEN DECIDED THAT THESE PEOPLE WERE GOING TO BE RELEASED WITH OR WITHOUT CONDITIONS.

THOSE DID NOT TAKE A LOT OF TIME BUT ON THE OTHER SIDE THERE ARE DETENTION HEARINGS WERE PROSECUTORS HAVE TO DECIDE OR CONVINCE A JUDGE THAT THIS POSES SOME SORT OF FLIGHT RISK OR SAFETY RISK AND NEED TO BE HELD IN JAIL.

THOSE TAKE MORE TIME.

THAT THIS WAS ABOUT TO BE A BETTER PROCESS FOR DEFENDANTS.

JUDGES ARE SUPPOSED TO MAKE MORE INDIVIDUALIZED DECISIONS ON EACH ONE OF THESE CASES, TO GIVE DEFERENCE TO THESE CASES AND THEY ARE SUPPOSED AWAY EVERYTHING AHEAD OF THEM.

>> THERE WAS A DEFENDANT THAT HAD PEPPER SPRAYED FOUR POLICE OFFICERS DURING THE MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION.

WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE?

I UNDERSTAND THESE WERE FELONY CHARGES.

>> SHE USED TO BE CALLED IN CENTRAL BOND COURT , SHE WAS NOT SET TO BE DETAINED BUT WAS WAS -- FOR SPRING OFFICERS.

THREE WERE HOSPITALIZED, ONE DECLINED MEDICAL ATTENTION.

IF SHE HAD BEEN DETAINED ANY DAY EXCEPT TODAY A JUDGE MAY HAVE SET HER LIKELY ON CASH BOND THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OR NOT PAY .

TODAY, PROSECUTORS DID NOT SEEK TO DETAIN HER.

THEY SAID SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO BE RELEASED WITH CONDITIONS .

THE JUDGE NOTED THIS WAS HER FIRST ARREST SO SHE WAS ABLE TO LEAVE THE COURTHOUSE AFTER THIS HEARING.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT JUDGES HAVE THE ABILITY TO DISCERN IS WHETHER PEOPLE WILL BE A DANGER TO SOMEONE ELSE OR THE COMMUNITY SO USING THOSE GUIDELINES IN THIS CASE, BUT PERHAPS AS YOU SAID, SHE HAD BEEN HAVING TO PAY SOME KIND OF BOND IN THE PAST.

WHAT HAPPENS IF SHE DOESN'T SHOW UP ?

IF SHE COMMITS ANOTHER CRIME HER ORDER FOR RELEASE WOULD BE REVOKED.

SHE COULD END UP BACK IN JAIL AS IF SHE HAD BEEN DETAINED.

>> I WANT TO ASK YOU ONE LAST QUESTION.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE.

HOW IS THIS LAW GOING TO AFFECT THEM?

IT IS DESIGNED TO HELP THEM AS WELL WITH PRETRIAL FAIRNESS.

PEOPLE CHARGED IN THOSE TYPES OF CASES CAN BE HELD FOR UP TO 48 HOURS BEFORE THEY GET A DETENTION HEARING AND WHILE MANY CHARGES THAT ARE ELIGIBLE TO DETAINED ARE FELONIES IN CERTAIN ASSAULT CASES, THEY CAN ALSO BE MISDEMEANORS.

THESE ARE ALL DESIGNED TO GIVE VICTIMS ADDITIONAL SUPPORT AND PROTECTION IN THE EVENT THAT THEY ARE THE VICTIMS OF THESE TYPES OF CRIMES.

>> A MASSIVE LAW WITH SO MANY MOVING PARTS.

WE WILL KEEP FOLLOWING IT AS IT PROGRESSES.

MATT MASTERSON, THANK YOU VERY MUCH .

>> READ HIS FULL STORY ON WTTW.COM/NEWS.

WE CONTINUE THE STORY ABOUT CASH BAIL RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>>> RETURN TO SOME OTHER VOICES ON DAY ONE OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SO-CALLED NO CASH BAIL LAW.

HOW IS IT GOING ACROSS THE REGION AND STATE?

JOINING US OUR SHERIFF MIKE DOWNEY AND LAKE COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY ERIC REINHARDT.

WE ARE GLAD THAT BOTH OF YOUR WITH US.

'S OF STATES ATTORNEY, YOU HEARD ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING UP -- GOING ON IN COOK COUNTY COURTROOMS.

SEEMS LIKE A NORMAL DAY.

HOW ABOUT HEARINGS IN LAKE COUNTY?

>> THEY WENT ACCORDING TO WHAT WE WOULD EXPECT FOR IMPLEMENTATION.

OUR COURT PERSONNEL, JUDGES, CLERKS, DEPUTIES, PROSECUTORS, AND MUNICIPAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS HAVE BEEN TRAINING SINCE THE DECISION CAME DOWN FROM THE SUPREME COURT.

WE TRAINED IN DECEMBER 2022, NOVEMBER 2022.

MY FIRST CONCERN WAS TRAINING LAW ENFORCEMENT SO THEY UNDERSTOOD WHETHER THERE WERE ANY REAL DIFFERENCES IN TERMS OF THEIR ABILITY TO ARREST INDIVIDUALS.

THAT WAS A GREAT FOCUS OF TRAINING AND THAT'S WHAT I HAD PERSONALLY BEEN TRAINING OFFICERS ON.

I'VE CONDUCTED, MYSELF, SIX OR SEVEN TRAINING STRESS WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT AND THINGS WENT WELL AND WE WERE READY.

WE FILED DETENTION PETITIONS ON DOMESTIC BATTERERS, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD A GUN ON A PARADE, AN INDIVIDUAL WHO COMMITTED A RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY, WE FILED A DETENTION ON SOMEONE WHO POSTED CASH BAIL AFTER THEY AGGRAVATED LEE BATTERED A PEACE OFFICER.

$35,000 AFTER A BATTERING OF A POLICE OFFICER AND WE FILED A DETENTION PETITION ON THAT INDIVIDUAL TODAY AFTER THEY COMMITTED A NEW OFFENSE.

>> SO YOU ARE GIVING US A SENSE OF THE RANGE.

>> WE FILED SEVERAL DETENTION PETITIONS AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS ARE HELD WHILE WE AWAIT A LONGER DETENTION HEARING.

>> OKAY SO THERE'S A LONGER DETENTION HEARING AND PERHAPS THEY WILL BE HELD UNTIL THEIR TRIAL.

SHERIFF, WE SHOULD MENTION THAT YOU ARE AT A SHERIFFS ASSOCIATION MEETING RIGHT NOW IN PEORIA.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM YOUR COLLEAGUES DOWN THERE?

WE SHOULD KNOW THAT YOU HAVE BEEN PRETTY CRITICAL OF THIS LAW.

>> I THINK AS HE SAID, EVERYBODY HAS BEEN TRAINING.

WE WERE READY TO GO JANUARY 1 OF 2023 AFTER THE SUPREME COURT STATED AND MADE THE RULING, WE WENT THROUGH TRAINING AS WELL SO LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS READY , AS WAS EVERYONE IN THE COURTHOUSE.

WE ARE ON A WAIT-AND-SEE BASIS RIGHT NOW, REALLY.

>> AND SHERIFF ONE OF YOUR CRITICISMS OF THE PAST WAS THAT JUDGES WERE NOT GOING TO HAVE ENOUGH DISCRETION TO SORT OF, DETERMINE WHO WOULD HAVE TO BE HELD WITHOUT BAIL .

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY DID GO BACK AND TWEAK SOME OF THIS.

DID THEY ADDRESS SOME OF THE CONCERNS?

>> OBVIOUSLY YOU KNOW, THE LAW WAS WRITTEN AND WE'VE GONE THROUGH THREE OR FOUR TRAILER BILLS AND I'M SURE THERE ARE MORE TO COME.

BUT TO ADDRESS THEM FULLY, NO.

THERE IS CERTAINLY MORE WORK TO DO.

WE HOPE THAT THE LEGISLATORS WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT IS GOING ON OUT THERE SO FROM A DISCRETION STANDPOINT, JUDGES HAVE HAD DISCRETION NOW.

STATES ATTORNEYS APPEAR IN COURT EVERY DAY AND IF THEY FEEL SOMEONE SHOULD NOT BE RELEASED THEN THEY OBVIOUSLY WANT A HIGH BOND.

IF THEY FEEL SOMEONE SHOULD BE RELEASED THEY CAN.

THEY'VE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THIS LAW CAME INTO EFFECT SO TO SAY THAT WE CHANGED EVERYTHING AND MADE IT BETTER, WE HAD THAT OPPORTUNITY PRIOR TO THIS LAW BEING CHANGED.

SO NOW WE'VE TAKEN AWAY SOME OF THAT BECAUSE CERTAIN OFFENSES JUDGES CANNOT CONTAIN.

EVEN IF THESE PEOPLE ARE OUT THERE CONTINUING TO WREAK HAVOC ON BUSINESSES , WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THEM?

DO YOU CONTINUE TO RELEASE THEM, WRITE THEM CITATIONS .

IF THEY DO NOT FOLLOW THE LAWS THAT THERE ARE NOW WHY WOULD THEY FOLLOW A PIECE OF PAPER ON THE CITATION?

THEY ARE NOT GOING TO.

>> YOU MENTIONED THE DIFFERENT OFFENSES THAT YOU WERE SEEKING DETENTION FOR IT.

I'M ASSUMING BECAUSE PROSECUTORS HAVE DETERMINED THAT THESE FOLKS MAY BE EITHER A FLIGHT RISK OR A THREAT TO SOMEBODY OR THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

DO YOU TRUST THAT JUDGES ARE GOING TO USE CORRECT DISCRETION AND DEEM THE FOLKS THAT YOU BELIEVE SHOULD NOT BE OUT, THAT THEY SHOULD STAY IN JAIL AWAITING TRIAL?

>> YES.

THIS IS GOING TO MAKE OUR COMMUNITY SAFER.

WE HAVE THE SAME GOALS AND IT SOUNDS LIKE WE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE.

TODAY ONE OF THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE SOUGHT TO DETAIN POSTED $35,000.

I BET THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY.

I BET A PROSECUTOR SAID WE WOULD LIKE A HIGH CASH BOND BECAUSE HE BATTERED A BROTHER OR SISTER POLICE OFFICER.

HE POSTED 35,000 REAL DOLLARS.

I BET THAT PROSECUTOR AND LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, I BET THAT JUDGE, THOUGHT THAT WAS A HIGH BOND.

ONE OF YOUR REPORTERS MENTION THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

ONE OF THE MOVING PARTS IS, HOW MUCH MONEY DO PEOPLE HAVE?

THEY DON'T FILE 1040S TO COURT WHEN THEY GET ARRESTED.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY CRIMINALS HAVE.

WE DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH MONEY THE FAMILIES OF CRIMINALS HAVE.

THIS SYSTEM ALLOWS US TO FILE DETENTION PETITIONS.

WHEN DETENTION PETITIONS ARE PENDING THE INDIVIDUAL IS HELD.

WHEN IT IS GRANTED, AS I SUSPECT ALL OF OUR DETENTION PETITIONS THAT WE FILED TODAY WILL BE GRANTED, THOSE PEOPLE ARE HELD UNTIL WE RESOLVE THE CASE.

THAT'S WHAT IS GOING TO MAKE PEOPLE SAFER.

AND I HAVE A BIG ISSUE, YOU SAID DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS GROUPS HAS QUESTION.

EVERY MAJOR GROUP WAS SUPPORTS THIS REFORM AND THAT'S WHY I DO AS WELL.

>> SHERIFF, DO YOU THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT, PROSECUTORS, JUDGES ARE ON THE SAME PAGE IN TERMS OF WHO THEY BELIEVE SHOULD BE HELD WITHOUT BAIL AND WHO SHOULD NOT?

>> WELL, YES.

OBVIOUSLY OUR STATES ATTORNEY WHO OBVIOUSLY WAS THE LEAD ATTORNEY IN THE LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILED , HE IS VERY PRO-LAW ENFORCEMENT AND WANTS TO KEEP THOSE THAT NEED TO BE LOCKED UP, LOCKED UP.

JUDGES, I DON'T KNOW MAYBE HE WOULD DISAGREE BUT NONE OF US CAN GUESS ON WHAT JUDGES ARE GOING TO DO.

SOME WILL BE, SOME WILL WANT TO GRANT ALL OF THE PETITIONS, SOME MAY NOT.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE, IT IS JUST SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO BE DETERMINED BY EACH CASE.

IT'S A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AND I THINK THAT WE AS LAW ENFORCEMENT, WE BELIEVE , AND I KNOW IT WAS SAID EARLIER THAT YOU THINK, SOMEBODY THINKS IT'S GOING TO COOK KEEP THE COMMUNITY SAFER, I DON'T.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT'S GOING TO BE MORE DIFFICULT TO SERVE WARRANTS, THIS LAW GIVES NO INCENTIVE FOR SOMEONE TO SHOW UP IN COURT.

IT REALLY DOESN'T.

WE'VE GOT 6000 ACTIVE WARRANTS IN KANKAKEE COUNTY AND FOR THOSE THAT DO NOT KNOW, SERVING A WARRANT IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST, THE MOST DANGEROUS JOBS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS.

IF YOU GO BACK AND LOOK AT LAW ENFORCEMENT HOMICIDES OR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS WHO HAVE BEEN KILLED, MOST OF THOSE HAVE BEEN WHILE TRYING TO SERVE A WARRANT.

>> WE ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF SECONDS LEFT, YOU WANTED TO JUST GET IN REAL QUICK?

THE SAFETY ACT DOES NOT CHANGE THE WARRANTS, HOW THEY ARE SERVED.

YOU HAVE TO PROTECT LAW ENFORCEMENT EVERY DAY AND THE NUMBER THAT HE SAID WERE ACTIVE WAS UNDER A CASH SYSTEM.

WE ARE GOING TO HAVE FEWER BECAUSE WE ARE GOING TO HOLD PEOPLE WHILE THEIR CASE IS PENDING.

>> THIS IS DAY ONE .

>> THEY STILL HAVE TO SHOW UP IN COURT.

>> WE ARE OUT OF TIME, THANK YOU TO SHERIFF DOWNEY AND -- REINHARDT.

>>> THE POLICE MISCONDUCT SYSTEM COMPLETED YEARS AGO, WHY IT HAS NOT BEEN UTILIZED.

STAY WITH US.

>>> MAYOR BRANDON JOHNSON VOWED TO SPEED UP EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT A SYSTEM DESIGNED TO ALERT CHICAGO POLICE BRASS ABOUT WHICH OFFICERS HAVE BEEN THE SUBJECT OF REPEATED POLICE MISCONDUCT.

THERE ARE RECORDS SHOWING THE SYSTEM COULD HAVE BEEN ROLLED OUT CITYWIDE MAY 2021 BUT HAS YET TO BE IMPLEMENTED NEARLY 2 1/2 YEARS LATER.

LET'S LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAYOR HAD TO SAY IN RESPONSE TO OUR STORY.

>> I CAN'T SPEAK TO PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND WHY THEY WOULD SAY A MORE SNAIL OR TURTLE APPROACH TOWARDS ALL FORMS OF GOVERNANCE AND MOVING WITH EXPEDIENCY, WORKING WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS, ALSO WORKING WITH LEADERSHIP WITHIN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO MOVE WITH SOME HURRY MISS, TO MAKE SURE THE PEOPLE OF CHICAGO KNOW THAT WE TAKE THE CONSENT DECREE SERIOUSLY.

>> HEATHER, HE IS REFERRING TO WHAT IS CALLED THE OFFICER SUPPORT SYSTEM.

TELL US HOW THIS IS SUPPOSED TO WORK.

>> IT IS SUPPOSED TO SEND UP A RED FLAG TO SUPERVISORS WHEN OFFICERS UNDER THEIR COMMAND ACCUMULATE MISCONDUCT COMPLAINTS AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO INTERVENE WITH COUNSELING.

RETRAINING.

IT IS, HOWEVER, NOT TO BE DESIGNED TO DISCIPLINE OFFICERS BECAUSE THAT PROPOSAL IS HOTLY OPPOSED BY THE POLICE UNION WHICH REPRESENTS RANK-AND-FILE OFFICERS.

>> SO THERE'S A COURT ORDER COMPELLING THE CITY TO IMPLEMENT THIS SO TAKE US TO THE TIMELINE.

>> IN THE WAKE OF THE POLICE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD IN MAY 2020, FORMER MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT PROMISED TO ROLL OUT THE SYSTEM WITHIN 90 DAYS.

SHE DID, BUT ONLY IN ONE FAR SOUTH SIDE POLICE DISTRICT.

TODAY IT REMAINS THE ONLY POLICE DISTRICT WHERE THE SYSTEM IS EVEN IN USE.

WE OBTAINED A LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO CRIME LAB WHO CRAFTED THE SYSTEM THAT TOLD THE FORMER SUPERINTENDENT DAVID BROWN THAT THE SYSTEM WAS READY FOR CITYWIDE IMPLEMENTATION OF MAY 2021 BUT IT HAD BEEN BESET BY DOZENS OF DELAYS INCLUDING THE DECISION BY THE CITY TO FOCUS ON OTHER REQUIREMENTS AND TO SHIFT OFFICERS INITIALLY ASSIGNED TO OPERATE THE SYSTEM TO PATROL, AMID A SURGE IN CRIME.

>> HE IS SAYING HE IS NOT SURE WHY THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION DID NOT GET THIS UP AND RUNNING WITH A PROMISED.

WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?

>> THE CITY HAS BEEN BESET BY DECADES OF POLICE SCANDALS, MISCONDUCT, AND BRUTALITY.

THIS SYSTEM IS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THOSE FROM BLOSSOMING INTO ENTIRE ISSUES THAT DERAIL THE CITY EFFORTS, LIKE -- AND WITHOUT IT THE EFFORT REQUIRED BY THE FEDERAL COURT WILL NOT BE SUCCESSFUL ACCORDING TO ADVOCATES AND THE INSPECTOR GENERAL.

>> AND THERE WERE ABOUT TO GET NEW LEADERSHIP PENDING CONFIRMATION FROM CITY COUNCIL BUT WHAT HAVE THEY SAID IF ANYTHING?

THEY GAVE ME NO DETAILED RESPONSES ABOUT CAUSES OF THE DELAYS BUT SAID THAT THEY ARE WORKING TO ROLL IT OUT CITYWIDE DILIGENTLY AND THAT THEY ARE TRAINING SUPERVISORS TO INTERVENE ON AN AD HOC BASIS WHEN THEY SEE OFFICERS ACCUMULATING MISCONDUCT COMPLAINTS OR OTHERWISE STRUGGLING.

>> ALL RIGHT.

HEATHER CHERONE, WELL DONE.

YOU CAN READ HER FIRST ¿ FULL STORY ON THE WEBSITE , WTTW.COM/NEWS .

>> HE WANTS YOU TO TAKE MIDWESTERN FOOD SERIOUSLY AND SAYS THIS REGION IS MORE THAN JUST CROCKPOT MEALS LOADED WITH CREAM OF MUSHROOM OR SALAD, MOSTLY MADE OF MARSHMALLOWS AND COOL WHIP.

THEY UNDERESTIMATE THE INFLUENCE THAT THE MIDWEST .

HE IS THE CHEF AND CO-OWNER OF THE RESTAURANT BIG JONES IN ANDERSONVILLE AND IS AT WITH HIS SECOND BOOK LATER THIS WEEK.

IT IS AS MUCH A COLLECTION OF RECIPES AS IT IS A TOUR THROUGH THE FOOD HISTORY OF OUR REGION.

>> I'M GOING TO PUT SOME FRIES OVER HERE.

>> THESE DAYS HE IS MOSTLY COOKING UP CAJUN FOOD AT HIS RESTAURANT.

>> I'M GOING TO BE WORKING ON THESE AND BASED THEM AND THEN WE ARE GOING TO PLATE THEM HERE .

>> HIS EARLIEST CULINARY MEMORIES ARE NOT FROM INDIANA, THEY ARE FROM INDIA.

>> MY GRANDPARENTS HOUSE ON THE OLD FARM WHERE THE DAIRY COW WAS AND THE SMOKEHOUSE, THEY STILL DID HUG KILLINGS.

I'VE JUST NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

>> WHEN HE WAS TRAVELING AROUND THE SOUTH LEARNING THE CUISINE THAT HE NOW MAKES FOR A LIVING HE WAS IMPRESSED BY THE ARRAY OF REGIONAL FOODS AND WHEN HE WENT HOME TO VISIT HIS FOLKS, >> I STARTED TO REALIZE WE HAVE A LOT OF COOL AND INTERESTING REGIONAL FOODS HERE THAT WHEN I WAS GROWING UP I TOOK FOR GRANTED.

I WANTED TO WRITE ON THE DOCUMENT, AND DOCUMENT A LOT OF THOSE TRADITIONAL FOODS BECAUSE FOODWAYS CHANGE AND DISAPPEAR.

>> ON THE MORNING WE VISITED HE WAS COOKING UP SOME MIDWESTERN BARBECUE.

I CELEBRATING THESE RECIPES HE ALSO WANTED TO DISPEL SOME OF THE SMALL MINDED VIEWS THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE OF MIDWESTERN COOKING.

>> IT'S MEAT AND POTATOES, RANCH DRESSING, WHICH WE ALL LOVE THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO IT THAN THAT.

HERO, THROUGHOUT THE HISTORY THE MIDWEST HAS BEEN THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL REGION IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICAN FOOD AND DRINK CULTURE.

I CAN'T POSSIBLY GO INTO DEPTH ABOUT WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT, BUT THE MIDWEST HAS BEEN SORT OF THE INDUSTRIAL HUB OF THE COUNTRY THAT WAS HOW IT DEVELOPED.

IT HAS BEEN THE BREADBASKET FOR THE COUNTRY AS WELL.

>> THE MEATPACKERS OF CHICAGO, FLOUR MILLERS OF MINNESOTA , BUT THE MIDWEST WAS NOT JUST MAKING FOOD .

IT WAS INFLUENCING HOW PEOPLE COOKED.

BETTY CROCKER WAS CREATED BY THE MINNESOTA-BASED COMPANY THAT WAS CREATED BY GENERAL MILLS.-- THAT BECAME GENERAL MILLS.

>> I'M BETTY CROCKER AND I PROMISE YOU A PERFECT CAKE EVERY TIME YOU BAKE.

>> SHE HAD MORE LISTENERS IN THE SOUTH FOR HER RADIO PROGRAM THAN SHE DID IN THE MIDWEST.

>> THEY WERE A HUGE PART OF RESEARCH PARTICULARLY COMMUNITY COULD LOOKS AND MANY OF THEM WERE GERMANS BROUGHT BY IMMIGRANTS TO THE MIDWEST.

AMONG HIS FINDINGS?

THE OLDEST FRIED CHICKEN RECIPE.

>> YOU HEARD IT.

FRIED CHICKEN, MIDWESTERN, NOT SOUTHERN.

HE ALSO SAYS ALL BEEF HOT DOGS WERE INVENTED BY CHICAGO'S JEWISH COMMUNITY.

>> NATHAN'S DIDN'T, IT WAS ACTUALLY DECADES EARLIER.

>> WHILE IT IS NOT ORIGINALLY SOUTHERN A LINE OF MIDWESTERN COOKING ARE SHAPED BY PATTERNS FROM THE GREAT MIGRATION AS MEAT PROCESSING WAS TAKING OFF.

JAMES P LEMMON SAW MEATPACKERS CUTTING THE TIPS OFF OF SPARERIBS AND PUT THEM TO USE FOR HIS CHICAGO STYLE BARBECUE.

>> CHICAGO STYLE.

WE ARE DOING A LITTLE BIT HIGHER HEAT AND FOR NOT AS LONG.

>> WHAT ARE YOU BASING IT WITH?

>> THIS IS A CHICAGO STYLE BARBECUE SAUCE WHICH IS SIMILAR TO MEMPHIS.

TRAVELING UP AND DOWN THE DELTA REGION.

>> THERE ARE ALSO MULTIPLE PROFILES OF CHEFS ACROSS THE REGION.

HE HOPES TO HIGHLIGHT THE FOODWAYS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR IN HIS BOOK AND SAYS IT'S TIME THAT BLACK, LATINO, AND INDIGENOUS MIDWESTERNERS GET THEIR DUE IN THE WORLD OF FOOD AND BEYOND.

>> WE NEED TO SUPPORT WHAT THEY ARE DOING BECAUSE WE ARE ALL GOING TO BE RICHER BY HAVING THEM AS PART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

>> IT COMMUNITY THAT HE HOPES STARTS GETTING LOUDER ABOUT CONTRIBUTIONS.

>> ME IN THE MIDWEST MAYBE NEED TO THINK ABOUT TOOTING OUR HORN AND HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF PRIDE ABOUT WHAT WE'VE DONE FOR THE COUNTRY .

>> AS FOR WHAT I GOT TO EAT THE DAY OF THE CONVERSATION?

>> HELP YOURSELF.

>> NOT MY USUAL BREAKFAST.

THIS IS DELICIOUS.

>> ENOUGH SAID.

CHICAGO TONIGHT .

>> HARD TO WATCH THIS ON AN EMPTY STOMACH.

>> THE MIDWEST GUIDE AND A SURPRISING HISTORY OF MIDWESTERN CUISINE AVAILABLE SEPTEMBER 20.

>> THAT IS OUR SHOW FOR THIS MONDAY NIGHT.

JOIN US FOR 5:30 AND 10:00.

I'M PARIS SCHUTZ.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GREAT EVENING.