AltWeeklies Wire
Small Town, Big Letdownnew
Despite prison overcrowding problems, Illinois' most modern maximum-security prison sits empty nearly five years after it was supposed to open.
Illinois Times |
Jamie Murnane |
04-24-2006 |
Crime & Justice
Closing the Booknew
The former library assistant Lori Burger was caught last summer peddling cast-off library donations on eBay.
Illinois Times |
Dusty Rhodes |
03-31-2006 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
It Doesn't Add Upnew
An official record of hours worked may have been faked to help a police informant in Illinois.
Illinois Times |
Dusty Rhodes |
03-03-2006 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
Requiem For a Tweakernew

Thomas O'Dell, a meth addict, successfully completed drug treatment in prison, was released early and lived an exemplary life -- so how did he end up back in prison?
Illinois Times |
Bruce Rushton |
03-03-2006 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
Taking It to Courtnew
Springfield, Ill. Police Department Chief Don Kliment will be named as the defendant in a lawsuit from the unlikeliest of sources -- next-door
neighbor and fellow union activist Ron Vose.
Illinois Times |
Dusty Rhodes |
02-03-2006 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
Cutting Cornersnew
A Springfield, Ill. Police detective who is the subject of an Illinois State Police investigation has a record of failing to submit necessary court paperwork on time.
Illinois Times |
Dusty Rhodes |
01-27-2006 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
The Wedding Crashernew
A thief stole money out of wedding cards, but he didn't realize the groom was a first assistant state’s attorney.
Illinois Times |
Dusty Rhodes |
01-20-2006 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
Reluctant Witnessnew

To find out how pervasive racism is at the Springfield, Ill. Police Department, just ask the city's top African-American cop.
Illinois Times |
Dusty Rhodes |
01-20-2006 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
Whistleblowing Cop Quitsnew
A veteran Springfield, Ill. narcotics officer unexpectedly resigns amidst fears of retribution for exposing police misconduct.
Illinois Times |
Dusty Rhodes |
01-06-2006 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: crime & justice
Justice Delayed Becomes Justice Deniednew
For more than a decade, Lisa Weisser pursued a claim against the state of Illinois, arguing the state should have protected her from a known sex offender who raped her. On Saturday, Dec. 3, she gave up.
Illinois Times |
Bruce Rushton |
12-12-2005 |
Crime & Justice
A Predator on the Loosenew
Michael Redpath is a danger to women and children, so why does he keep getting breaks?
Illinois Times |
Bruce Rushton |
12-12-2005 |
Crime & Justice
Newly Freed Sex Offenders Caught in Revolving Doornew
Inmates are given their release papers, walked to the gates of prisons, then promptly arrested by Department of Corrections officers and returned to their cells because they haven't found a satisfactory place to live.
Illinois Times |
Bruce Rushton |
10-28-2005 |
Crime & Justice
State Fights Claim of Woman Raped at Mental Health Centernew
Lisa Weisser was raped in 1994 in a state mental-health facility -- and has been seeking justice ever since. Her rapist got a slap on
the wrist, and returned to the streets, where last year he threatened another woman.
Illinois Times |
Bruce Rushton |
10-14-2005 |
Crime & Justice
Karyn’s Killers?new
For the first time, members of the Slover family -- convicted of murdering and dismembering Karyn Hearn Slover in 1996 -- tell their story.
Illinois Times |
Dusty Rhodes |
10-07-2005 |
Crime & Justice
Convicted Rapist's Request for New Trial Turned Downnew
A rapist who figured in a Springfield police controversy says he felt pressured to plead guilty.
Illinois Times |
Dusty Rhodes |
09-02-2005 |
Crime & Justice
Tags: Illinois, Renatta Frazier