The use of torture has found its way into public discourse largely surrounding U.S. interrogation techniques in the War on Terror. However, the Midwest Coalition for Human Rights recognizes that there are abuses carried out by local law enforcement that are tantamount to torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment in the Midwest region. Our members have worked to gain justice for victims of torture in the notorious Burge cases or "Chicago Police Torture Cases" for over thirty years and such work continues to this day. We continue to work on persistent problems of police abuse, racial profiling and the lack of transparency and accountability for police misconduct in region through direct service, advocacy, and education and training efforts. 

Project Goals

• Linking community leaders and activists to issue experts and providing trainings to explain international human rights standards and their application to the policies and practices of our domestic police forces;
• Supporting local efforts that use the human rights framework to advance the abolition of torture and excessive use of force by police and prison officials;
• Documenting the use of restraints, taser guns and other disciplinary methods by law enforcement authorities in our communities;
• Promoting public education to support the end of torture by law enforcement through participation in public events and programs, and use of media;
• Using international law and international mechanisms to pressure local governments to respect the prohibition against torture and inhumane treatment. 

Achievements   

• Our testimony resulted in recommendations by the U.N. Committee Against Torture calling on the U.S. government to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the torture of 200 African-Americans in the 1980s and 1990s by the Chicago police.
• Coalition members prompted the passage of three resolutions in July 2007 by the Cook County Board of Commissioners (Chicago) with regard to the Chicago Police (Burge) torture cases.
• Provided testimony to the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Racism on abuse and racial profiling by police in Chicago, and the need for accountability and transparency in the Chicago Police Department.
• After pushing for a federal investigation into the Chicago police torture cases, Coalition members claimed victory when the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that Jon Burge would be indicted on charges relating to torture.
• We targeted presidential and congressional candidate forums to raise questions about preventing the use of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment by law enforcement personnel.
• After a series of events, including suicides in jail, allegations of racial profiling, the arrest of local activists, which led to serious criticism of law enforcement’s treatment of citizens and detainees, members pressed for independent citizen police review boards to investigate police abuse in their communities and to prevent human rights violations by law enforcement.
• Members developed curriculum – within a human rights framework – to educate students about the use of tasers.