David Jackson

David Jackson is an investigative reporter at Injustice Watch, where his work focuses on the courts. He earned a Pulitzer Prize at The Washington Post, and was a four-time Pulitzer finalist during his 29 years at the Chicago Tribune, from 1991 through 2020.

The measure, which emerged after nearly a year of negotiations, is headed to Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office.

Bill with changes spurred by Chicago Public Schools student sexual abuse scandal headed to Gov. Pritzker

May 31, 2019 at 11:24 p.m.

A measure aimed at protecting Illinois students from sexual abuse and assault at school is headed to the governor's desk after unanimous approval in the Senate. The strongest provisions aim...

The Illinois State Capitol building on May 21, 2019, in Springfield.

State lawmakers poised to pass changes following Chicago Public Schools sex abuse scandal

May 28, 2019 at 10:01 a.m.

State lawmakers appear poised to vote on a sweeping bill they say will protect Illinois students from sexual abuse and assault at school following nearly a year of negotiations on...

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, center, with Cook County Commissioner Roberto Maldonado, followed by former Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, after announcing an intergovernmental domestic violence task force pilot, on March 20, 2014.

Launched with great fanfare, Chicago’s effort to help domestic violence victims has fallen short of its promises

June 14, 2024 at 6:41 p.m.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel used a flurry of news releases to announce Chicago's innovative domestic violence task force five years ago. He pledged state-of-the-art police training, enhanced data collection and a...

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Chief Judge Timothy Evans have partnered on initiatives to reduce the Cook County Jail population and emphasized imposing bonds that defendants can afford.

Domestic violence victims face risk of being attacked again following Cook County reforms, a Tribune investigation found

June 14, 2024 at 6:41 p.m.

Cook County judges have sharply lowered bonds for people accused of violent domestic attacks and prosecutors are dropping more of these cases, placing victims at risk as potentially dangerous suspects...

How the Tribune analyzed court outcomes for domestic violence cases

June 14, 2024 at 6:41 p.m.

To analyze the outcomes of recent Chicago domestic violence cases, Tribune reporters examined more than 1,000 police reports of aggravated domestic battery from 2016 and a similar number from 2018,...

Six former patients are suing Timberline Knolls, a residential treatment program for girls and women in Lemont.

6 lawsuits claim abuse, safety lapses at Timberline Knolls treatment facility

April 4, 2019 at 9:01 p.m.

Six former Timberline Knolls patients have sued the private Lemont treatment facility, alleging administrators failed to protect them from a counselor who later was charged with sexual assault and abuse....

Timberline Knolls' national reputation as a treatment center for girls and women has been earned in part by treating celebrities including chart-topping songwriter Kesha and singer Demi Lovato.

6 women sexually abused by counselor at women’s rehab center Timberline Knolls, prosecutors say

June 14, 2024 at 6:42 p.m.

The women and girls who come to Timberline Knolls are in crisis. They arrive at the nationally recognized treatment center after suicide attempts, addicted to drugs, overwhelmed by mood and...

At Bogan High School, a 15-year-old boy with developmental disabilities allegedly was raped three times by another student while they were left unsupervised, a Tribune investigation found. The alleged victim's family is suing the Chicago Board of Education.

Judge bars Chicago schools attorney from asking about sexual history of special-needs student who reported being raped

May 23, 2019 at 6:45 a.m.

Lawyers for the Chicago Board of Education wanted to question the family of a student who had reported being raped about the boy’s prior sexual history. On Wednesday, a judge...

State Sen. Thomas Cullerton, D-Villa Park, above, has joined with Rep. David McSweeney, R-Barrington Hills, on legislation aiming to protect children from sexual abuse in school in the wake of the Tribune's "Betrayed" investigation.

Gov. Pritzker, lawmakers vow sweeping changes to address Chicago Public Schools sexual abuse scandal

May 15, 2019 at 10:30 p.m.

Illinois lawmakers have renewed bipartisan efforts to address the Chicago Public Schools sexual abuse scandal, filing bills designed to protect students by making sweeping changes to state laws. Legislators last...

DCFS Director Beverly Walker speaks at the Thompson Center in Chicago, on Oct. 3, 2017.

Illinois child welfare agency chief to step down; Gov. Pritzker conducting national search for replacement

May 23, 2019 at 6:43 a.m.

Illinois child welfare chief Beverly “B.J.” Walker told the Tribune late Friday she will step down next month. Gov. J.B. Pritzker is conducting a national search for a replacement, Walker...

All Stories