Newsletter MARCH 2025
The IL Murder Registry: Your Questions Answered After publishing our report about the IL Murder Register, we received questions from folks on the inside and thought the answers would be useful to all.
**This FAQ is compiled from information from the Illinois State Police. People’s experiences are often different.** What do I have to register? a. You will have to register your name, address, and if you have them, your place of employment, school, and car. Is the Murder Registry a part of Mandatory Supervised Release? a. No. While they are both still mandatory, MSR has a maximum term of three years and you can get off early, whereas the Murder Registry has a term of ten years to life and you cannot get off early. Can I parole to the house of someone who is on the registry? a. There is no restriction in the Murder Registry statute regarding who a person may live with, however your parole officer may decide to impose certain restrictions. Can you avoid having to register by moving to a state without a Murder Registry? a. If you parole directly to another state out of prison, you do not have to register with the Illinois Murder Registry. If you return to Illinois for five or more days within a calendar year, however, then you will have to register. b. If you parole in Illinois and then move states, you have to contact law enforcement in Illinois to alert them at least 10 days before you move. You also have to contact local law enforcement in the jurisdiction you’re moving to about whether or not you have to register in that state. c. If you are registered in Illinois and leave the state temporarily for a vacation or trip, you have to contact the last place you registered to let them know.
If I’m currently registered, and I move states and/or countries, do I need to let Illinois police know? a. Yes, you need to let the closest police station that handles registration know at least 10 days before you move. Your Parole Officer should have the location of police stations that handle registration. b. If you do not notify them of your new address, you will be listed as ‘non-compliant’, which puts you at risk of a class three felony and rearrest. Can I avoid having to register by changing my name? a. No. You have to report your legal name change to the closest police station that handles registration within five days of the change. If you don’t notify them of your new name change, you will be listed as ‘non-compliant’, which puts you at risk of a class three felony and re-arrest. Do you have questions or would you like to know more about the IL Murder Registry? Contact Rebecca WilsonBretz at our mailing address below.
Say Her Name: Women Survivors of Chicago Police Torture The following is a transcript of Episode 9 of Change Agents, a podcast by Reparations Media and Juneteenth Productions Michelle Clopton was in her twenties when Chicago police attempted to force her to confess to a crime she didn’t commit. For 72 hours, she was brutally questioned, deprived of food, and tortured. Today, she is one of the few women to publicly share her experience of abuse. But she’s not alone. Under the leadership of CPD Commander Jon Burge, more than 100 Black people were tortured by Chicago police in the ’70s and ’80s to elicit false confessions.
JJ: Oh, wow, I like this backsplash. MC: Yeah, I did that too. JJ: Okay. Michelle is from the South Side of Chicago and comes from a big family with four brothers and one sister. She tells me that her grandmother was a big force in raising her.
MC: I got a picture of him, um, I'm keeping her, my, my, my mama's dresser. This is my picture I had since I had been locked up and A group of survivors have created the Chicago Torture Justice Center broken up with. to begin rebuilding lives, healing, and finding joy. Michelle’s story reveals the unique impact of police abuse on women — and what it JJ: Wow, wow. Yeah. Beautiful. takes to survive and thrive. MC: Yeah. Producer, Jewél Jackson: Disclaimer, please note that this episode contains depictions of violence that some people may find disturbing. JJ: In her living room, she points out a photo collage. Please take care when listening. MC: I'm going to keep the pictures. I can't wait to finish. That wall right Michelle Clopton: Yeah, yeah there is going to be my picture wall and she will be the center of it. And, um, this the bedroom. JJ: I'm in the south side of Chicago meeting Michelle Clopton at her one bedroom apartment She welcomes me and gives me a tour, JJ: It's been a long time since Michelle had a room of her own. She is pointing out the changes she's made in the kitchen and bathroom. I newly free after spending 27 years in prison. She was released in notice the bold color choice of red throughout. 2023. MC: You know, I just try to look it up and make it cozy, you know? Yeah. Yeah. No, that's very nice. 6337 S. WOODLAWN AVENUE CHICAGO IL 60637 CHICAGOTORTUREJUSTICE.ORG