Congressman Jesse L. Jackson, Jr. Representing the People of the 2nd District of Illinois
 

Washington DC Office
2419 Rayburn House Office
Building

Washington DC 20515-1302
Phone: (202) 225-0773
Fax: (202) 225-0899

Homewood Office
17926 South Halsted
Homewood, IL 60430-2013
Phone: (708) 798-6000
Fax: (708) 798-6160
 
Chicago Office
7121 S. Yates Blvd.
Chicago, IL 60649
Phone: (773) 734-9660
Fax: (773) 734-9661
 

Criminal Justice

scales of justiceOur nation has one of the best criminal justice systems in the world, but there is still a great deal of room for improvement.

  • Too many Americans are incarcerated, with a disproportionate number of them from minority, poor and working-class backgrounds.
  • Racial profiling is still too commonplace.
  • There continue to be sentencing disparities, such as the one between crack and powder cocaine convictions.
  • Executions are still taking place, despite growing suspicions about police and prosecutorial misconduct in some capital cases and an overall decline of public support for the death penalty.

While I firmly believe that we must face crime head-on, our nation must address the root causes of a great deal of criminal behavior --- such as the lack of equal economic and educational opportunities. We must also make sure that those charged with dispensing justice do not become government-sanctioned symbols of injustice.

Perfect Union:

Additional material: