The Vote Equity Project collected over 250 reform ideas submitted by Chicagoans.
Residents from every ward collectively cast 52,000 votes on their top priorities.
These were the top-voted reforms in safety and justice.
- safety and justice -
1. Reform the justice system to incorporate restorative justice and other healing practices instead of jail, especially for non-violent events.
2. Invest in a public health approach to ending gun violence in all of our communities.
3. Reform the police department to address issues concerning mental health, implicit bias, and the lack of transparency among the force.
4. Divert funds from the City of Chicago's $4 million/day Policing Budget and invest in mental health services and youth jobs and recreation.
5. Invest in mental health resources and community mental health prevention plans, prioritizing communities with the greatest need.
1. reform the justice system
to incorporate restorative justice and other healing practices instead of jail, especially for non-violent events.
• Enforcing the police consent decree
• Enforcing stricter requirements for gun ownership
• Expanding restorative justice models of community engagement
• An increase in civilian oversight
amara enyia
YES
I believe restorative justice has its place. So does jail for those with long criminal records. Again, it isn't either/or. I am for adding more police officers but also was a vocal critic of closing the mental health clinics.
bob fioretti
NO
Mental health has long been a priority for me as a State Representative. I have introduced, and long supported bills aimed at addressing our dire needs for mental health reform in this city. In 2012 the city closed... (Response shortened for space.)
lashawn ford
YES
I’ve been very involved in policing and criminal justice reform, so I know how to implement these reforms. I’ve also called for a graduated real estate transfer tax with one-third of proceeds going toward community mental health programs.
lori lightfoot
YES
I will work hand in hand with the Justice Department to fully implement the consent decree to build trust between police and the communities they serve, keep our neighborhoods safe, and address the root causes of violence.
susana mendoza
YES
It is crucial to shift the way we address criminal justice to recognize the underlying factors, such as poverty and mental illness, that disproportionately affect disinvested communities. Jail is not always the best option for offenders.
toni preckwinkle
YES
My plan to bring econ. opportunity to formerly incarcerated individuals: plan for adult education here: Plan to invest in mental health here: I will also bolster existing initiatives & expand CIT/mental health training as part of police/public safety strategy.
paul vallas
YES
Gery Chico,
William M. Daley,
Neal Sáles-Griffin,
Jerry Joyce,
John Kozlar,
Garry McCarthy, and
Willie Wilson
did not respond.
other candidates
no response
2. Invest in a public health approach to ending gun violence in all of our communities.
• Enforcing the police consent decree
• Enforcing stricter requirements for gun ownership
• Expanding restorative justice models of community engagement
• An increase in civilian oversight
amara enyia
YES
I believe restorative justice has its place. So does jail for those with long criminal records. Again, it isn't either/or. I am for adding more police officers but also was a vocal critic of closing the mental health clinics.
bob fioretti
YES
Mental health has long been a priority for me as a State Representative. I have introduced, and long supported bills aimed at addressing our dire needs for mental health reform in this city. In 2012 the city closed... (Response shortened for space.)
lashawn ford
YES
I’ve been very involved in policing and criminal justice reform, so I know how to implement these reforms. I’ve also called for a graduated real estate transfer tax with one-third of proceeds going toward community mental health programs.
lori lightfoot
YES
I will work hand in hand with the Justice Department to fully implement the consent decree to build trust between police and the communities they serve, keep our neighborhoods safe, and address the root causes of violence.
susana mendoza
YES
It is crucial to shift the way we address criminal justice to recognize the underlying factors, such as poverty and mental illness, that disproportionately affect disinvested communities. Jail is not always the best option for offenders.
toni preckwinkle
YES
My plan to bring econ. opportunity to formerly incarcerated individuals: plan for adult education here: Plan to invest in mental health here: I will also bolster existing initiatives & expand CIT/mental health training as part of police/public safety strategy.
paul vallas
YES
Gery Chico,
William M. Daley,
Neal Sáles-Griffin,
Jerry Joyce,
John Kozlar,
Garry McCarthy, and
Willie Wilson
did not respond.
other candidates
no response
3. reform the police department
to address issues concerning mental health, implicit bias, and the lack of transparency among the force.
• Enforcing the police consent decree
• Enforcing stricter requirements for gun ownership
• Expanding restorative justice models of community engagement
• An increase in civilian oversight
amara enyia
YES
I believe restorative justice has its place. So does jail for those with long criminal records. Again, it isn't either/or. I am for adding more police officers but also was a vocal critic of closing the mental health clinics.
bob fioretti
YES
Mental health has long been a priority for me as a State Representative. I have introduced, and long supported bills aimed at addressing our dire needs for mental health reform in this city. In 2012 the city closed... (Response shortened for space.)
lashawn ford
YES
I’ve been very involved in policing and criminal justice reform, so I know how to implement these reforms. I’ve also called for a graduated real estate transfer tax with one-third of proceeds going toward community mental health programs.
lori lightfoot
YES
I will work hand in hand with the Justice Department to fully implement the consent decree to build trust between police and the communities they serve, keep our neighborhoods safe, and address the root causes of violence.
susana mendoza
YES
It is crucial to shift the way we address criminal justice to recognize the underlying factors, such as poverty and mental illness, that disproportionately affect disinvested communities. Jail is not always the best option for offenders.
toni preckwinkle
YES
My plan to bring econ. opportunity to formerly incarcerated individuals: plan for adult education here: Plan to invest in mental health here: I will also bolster existing initiatives & expand CIT/mental health training as part of police/public safety strategy.
paul vallas
No response
Gery Chico,
William M. Daley,
Neal Sáles-Griffin,
Jerry Joyce,
John Kozlar,
Garry McCarthy, and
Willie Wilson
did not respond.
other candidates
no response
4. divert funds from the City of Chicago's
$4 million/day Policing Budget
and invest in mental health services and youth jobs and recreation.
• Enforcing the police consent decree
• Enforcing stricter requirements for gun ownership
• Expanding restorative justice models of community engagement
• An increase in civilian oversight
amara enyia
YES
I believe restorative justice has its place. So does jail for those with long criminal records. Again, it isn't either/or. I am for adding more police officers but also was a vocal critic of closing the mental health clinics.
bob fioretti
NO
Mental health has long been a priority for me as a State Representative. I have introduced, and long supported bills aimed at addressing our dire needs for mental health reform in this city. In 2012 the city closed... (Response shortened for space.)
lashawn ford
YES
I’ve been very involved in policing and criminal justice reform, so I know how to implement these reforms. I’ve also called for a graduated real estate transfer tax with one-third of proceeds going toward community mental health programs.
lori lightfoot
no response
I will work hand in hand with the Justice Department to fully implement the consent decree to build trust between police and the communities they serve, keep our neighborhoods safe, and address the root causes of violence.
susana mendoza
NO
It is crucial to shift the way we address criminal justice to recognize the underlying factors, such as poverty and mental illness, that disproportionately affect disinvested communities. Jail is not always the best option for offenders.
toni preckwinkle
YES
My plan to bring econ. opportunity to formerly incarcerated individuals: plan for adult education here: Plan to invest in mental health here: I will also bolster existing initiatives & expand CIT/mental health training as part of police/public safety strategy.
paul vallas
no
Gery Chico,
William M. Daley,
Neal Sáles-Griffin,
Jerry Joyce,
John Kozlar,
Garry McCarthy, and
Willie Wilson
did not respond.
other candidates
no response
5. Invest in mental health resources and community mental health prevention plans
prioritizing communities with the greatest need.
• Enforcing the police consent decree
• Enforcing stricter requirements for gun ownership
• Expanding restorative justice models of community engagement
• An increase in civilian oversight
amara enyia
YES
I believe restorative justice has its place. So does jail for those with long criminal records. Again, it isn't either/or. I am for adding more police officers but also was a vocal critic of closing the mental health clinics.
bob fioretti
YES
Mental health has long been a priority for me as a State Representative. I have introduced, and long supported bills aimed at addressing our dire needs for mental health reform in this city. In 2012 the city closed... (Response shortened for space.)
lashawn ford
YES
I’ve been very involved in policing and criminal justice reform, so I know how to implement these reforms. I’ve also called for a graduated real estate transfer tax with one-third of proceeds going toward community mental health programs.
lori lightfoot
YES
I will work hand in hand with the Justice Department to fully implement the consent decree to build trust between police and the communities they serve, keep our neighborhoods safe, and address the root causes of violence.
susana mendoza
YES
It is crucial to shift the way we address criminal justice to recognize the underlying factors, such as poverty and mental illness, that disproportionately affect disinvested communities. Jail is not always the best option for offenders.
toni preckwinkle
YES
My plan to bring econ. opportunity to formerly incarcerated individuals: plan for adult education here: Plan to invest in mental health here: I will also bolster existing initiatives & expand CIT/mental health training as part of police/public safety strategy.
paul vallas
YES
Gery Chico,
William M. Daley,
Neal Sáles-Griffin,
Jerry Joyce,
John Kozlar,
Garry McCarthy, and
Willie Wilson
did not respond.