TORTURE IN CHICAGO
A supplementary report on the on-going failure
of government officials to adequately deal with
the scandal

October 29, 2008

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION .........................................:..........................................

3

THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION...............................................................

5

ILLINOIS ATTORNEY GENERAL AND TORTURE VICTIMS WHO REMAIN
IMPRISONED..........................................................................................

8

THE CITY OF CHICAGO...........................................................................

10

Compensation, Reparations, and Treatment for Torture Victims.........................

14

The Darrell Cannon Case.....................................................................

14

Reparations and Treatment..................................................... . ............

18

COOK COUNTY AND THE COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEYS' OFFICE...

20

24
INTERNATIONAL ACTIONS, HEARINGS AND REPORTS..............................
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STATE AND FEDERAL LEGISLATION......................................................... 26
THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE........................................................

27

CONCLUSION AND CALL TO ACTION........................................................

28

SIGNATURES........................................................................................... 29

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I believe that were this to take place in any other city in America, it would be on the
front page of every major newspaper. And this is obscene and outrageous that we're even
having a discussion today about the payment that is due the victims of torture. I think in light
of what has happened at Abu Ghraib, in Iraq with respect to torture victims, I am shocked and
saddened at the fact that we are having to engage in hearings such as these . . . . We need to
stop with this nonsense. I join with my colleagues in saying this has got to stop.
Alderman Sandi Jackson, Chicago City Council Hearing on Police Torture, July 24, 2007

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This was a serial torture operation that ran out of Area 2...The pattern was there.
Everybody knew what was going on. . . . [E]verybody in this room, everybody in this building,
everybody in the police department, everybody in the State's Attorney's office, would like to get
this anvil of Jon Burge off our neck and I think that there are creative ways to do that.
Alderman Thomas Allen, Chicago City Council Hearing on Police Torture, July 24, 2007
INTRODUCTION
More than two years ago, on July 19, 2006, the Cook County Special Prosecutors, after a
four year investigation that cost the taxpayers approximately $7 million, failed to indict Jon
Burge or any other of the other alleged Chicago police torturers, but instead issued a thoroughly
inadequate report. 1 There was widespread community outrage, and in response, on April 24,
2007, a diverse group of more than 200 organizations and individuals, including torture victims
and their 'family members, attorneys, legal academics, civil and human rights, religious and
political leaders, and community activists, issued a "shadow" report entitled "Report on the
Failure of Special Prosecutors Edward J. Egan and Robert D. Boyle to Fairly Investigate

The 292 page Report of the Special State's Attorney did make several significant findings,
including that three torture victims were abused "beyond a reasonable doubt" by Jon Burge and
several of his men; that Burge and his midnight crew abused suspects "with impunity;" and that
the police superintendent, Richard Brzeczek, knew of the torture of Andrew Wilson in 1982 and
should have acted to fire Burge at that time. Report of the Special State's Attorney, pp. 16-17,
86-88.
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