Overview

The Midwest Coalition for Human Rights recognizes the numerous human rights violations that exist in the U.S. criminal justice system. The Midwest Coalition addresses persistent problems of police abuse, racial profiling, and lack of transparency and accountability for police misconduct. The Coalition focuses on ending racial inequity in the prison system, promoting humane treatment in U.S. jails and prisons, and reforming the juvenile justice system.

Goals

• • Use international mechanisms in pressuring local governments and government officials, including police and prison officials, to respect the prohibition against torture and other cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment or punishment. 
• • Promote public education that seeks to end torture and other extreme treatment by law enforcement officials.
• • Document and publicize the use of restraints, electro-shock weapons and other disciplinary methods by law enforcement authorities in our communities and in U.S. detention centers.
• • Call for an end to sentencing of juveniles to life in prison without the possibility for parole. 

Actions 

• • 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. In 2010 we witnessed the conviction of Jon Burge and the public acknowledgement of the hundreds of acts of torture he committed decades ago. 
• • The Coalition 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.
• • In February of 2011 the Coalition hosted a strategic convening on Ending Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment by US Officials. The convening brought together a diverse group of over 120 advocates to strategize on human rights violations perpetuated by state and federal officials.

For more information visit our Police Accountability Resources Page.