ACLU of Illinois E-News
10.05.05



Juvenile Facility Still Falling Short



More than three years after Cook County signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the ACLU of Illinois to make improvements to the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC), two reports from independent monitors find that children are still at risk. The reports by the monitors raised concerns about violence and the use of physical restraints in the facility, as well as noting the use of room confinement for extended periods of time is imposed with any meaningful review. The second monitor found that critical staff positions remain vacant for long periods of time, positions that are important to implement the improvements called for under the Memorandum of Agreement. You can read more about the ACLU of Illinois reaction to the reports (as well as the reports themselves) by going to http://www.aclu-il.org/news/press/2005/10/independent_reports_confirm_co.shtml.



Bill of Rights Celebration a Huge Success



More than 600 supporters of the ACLU of Illinois gathered in Chicago on Saturday, October 1st to participate in the 2005 Bill of Rights Celebration. The event was a huge success - raising a significant amount of money and featuring some stirring speeches about civil liberties. Three state legislators - State Senate President Emil Jones, State Senator Carol Ronen and State Representative Larry McKeon -- honored for their support of legislation guaranteeing fairness to gay men and lesbians across Illinois were eloquent in accepting. The evening was capped by inspiring comments by University of Chicago School of Law Professor Geoff Stone, who reminded the ACLU of Illinois about the organization's importance and the critical threats to freedom of expression in today's national climate. You can read more about the BRC awardees at www.aclu-il.org.



Patriot Act Renewal: The Final Act



The debate over renewal of the Patriot Act is moving toward its final legislative action. We have learned that members of a House/Senate conference committee are expected to gather the week of October 17th in order to reconcile their differing versions of the renewal bill. While the ACLU of Illinois has not endorsed either the Senate or the House version of the bill, we have made clear that the Senate goes further to fix many of the flaws of the Patriot Act. It is not too late to call your member of Congress and urge them to support the Senate version of the bill. While the debate is going on, the ACLU and other national organizations are still working to lift a gag order that is keeping one member of the American Library Association from speaking out about the way the FBI has sought records from them. You can read more about this matter at http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=19177&c=206.



Share Your Story



Are you a woman who has had an abortion? You are not alone and your story is important! That is the message from a group compiling the voices of real women who have had abortions in the past. The book, Beyond Choice: Voices of Real Women will be published in the near future by a major national publisher. You do not have to be a gifted writer to share your story. The authors simply ask you send a two to five page essay told in your own words - with your name or an alias - via email to abortionanthology@hotmail.com.