By Carlos Ardila

Caption: Shaky Grounds

An effort to curtail the rising crime wave associated with scrap metal scavenging might end up hurting undocumented workers and their families.

Starting Jan. 1, the new state law - Senate Bill 69 - will require scrap metal dealers to record the identity of anyone who intends to sell more than $100 in metal scrap.

The bill, which cleared easily both the Illinois House and Senate and was signed into law by Gov. Rob Blagojevich in July, will require all scrap dealers to maintain a detailed database for up to three years.

By Dara Belic

South Loop residents learned of a high number of arrests and unchecked drug activity at a senior citizen apartment building in the 2^nd Ward at a recent CAPS meeting. Chicago police officers made 70 arrests in September said Beat 1213 Officer Alex Errum.

"Seventy is a high number for this beat," said Errum at the Oct. 16 meeting. The number of calls for service has been as low as 30 in previous months, the officer said.

The top three crimes that lead to the most arrests in the area were theft, narcotics and criminal damage. Twenty-five individuals were arrested for theft, 17 for narcotics possession or sale and 12 for criminal damage. Typical theft crimes included car break-ins and theft of property from construction sites, Errum said.

By Agnes Pietryka

Candidates for Cook County State's Attorney recently gathered in Chicago to discuss the top law enforcement job and why they believe they are suited for it. Eight candidates are vying for the spot held by Dick Devine, who decided not to seek a fourth term in office.

Although there was agreement on a number of policy issues, not all candidates readily disclosed information about campaign contributors at last week's forum, hosted by The National Black Prosecutors Association and National Hispanic Prosecutors Association and held at Quinn Chapel, Chicago's oldest African-American church, at 2401 S. Wabash Ave.

Danny K. Davis beamed proudly at a press conference called to showcase the Second Chance Act, just passed by the House and headed for the Senate. Davis is sure it will pass the Senate, and told the crowd of 130 people that he paraphrased the biblical “Faith without works is dead” for President Bush, telling Bush, “Faith without money is dead.”

The measure will provide Federal funds and oversight for a variety of support programs aimed at the 600,000 ex-offenders who return to communities across the nation each year after being incarcerated. Melody Heaps, founder and president of TASC, Inc., an independent, not-for-profit agency that provides access to treatment for certain drug-involved individuals in Illinois who are referred by criminal justice, corrections, juvenile justice, and child welfare systems said that the Act will “change the very of what we're doing and break the arrest, release, recidivism, and re-arrest cycle.

By Erica Christoffer

Chicago aldermen disagree on whether the names of police officers accused of using excessive force should be released.  On Oct. 31 Ald. Isaac Carothers (29th), chair of Chicago City Council's Police and Fire Committee, promised a public hearing on the matter.

Although Carothers said he hasn't decided when the hearing will take place, he has asked the Chicago Police Department to produce a pared down list of officers only identifying those with the most serious allegations of excessive force and the most numerous complaints of excessive force against them.

Carothers said he would favor the release of a pared down list over the full list currently sought by a group of 28 aldermen. Carothers said he hasn't seen the list, and doesn't know how many officers are on it.

"What's important to me is that there is a process," Carothers said, when asked why he didn't join the 28 aldermen seeking legal action in the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to make the list public.

By: Carlos Ardila

Lincoln Square residents have mixed feelings about a new law that targets families of youngsters convicted of vandalism by hitting them with big fines.

The law, which takes effect Nov. 4, will require the legal guardian of a minor caught "tagging" private or public property to pay up to $3,000.

Margaret Gillman, CAPS coordinator for beat 2012 on the city's North Side, told about 20 people at the Oct. 10 meeting that overall crime was down 17 percent from last September. But criminal damage, which includes vandalism, remained high in the North Side community, with 22 cases.

Gillman said getting rid of graffiti is an uphill battle.

By Emily Slusher 

A turf war has broken out on Chicago's West Side between a group of mothers and several groups of teenagers who residents say resemble gangs.

The women are working with 1st Ward Ald. Manny Flores, 14th District police officers and the Chicago Park District to clean up Maplewood Park and the 1600 block of Maplewood Ave. where they live in West Bucktown.

"We are tired of them disturbing the peace," said area resident Lucy Gerena. "Our children and grandchildren walk these streets and play in the park so we are concerned for their safety."

By Paige Gray

Some guests of a transient hotel are not making themselves welcome in Uptown. Community members have complained about vagrancy and gang activity near the 140-unit building that has some longer-term residents as well.

At a recent Chicago Alternative Policing Strategy meeting, Sgt. Edward O'Reilly reported complaints of vagrancy and gang activity around the Chateau Hotel, 3838 N. Broadway St. The hotel is located next to Gill Park playground, which worries parents and other area residents who say they don't want children's safety jeopardized.

By Paige Gray

The petite Shelley Sutker-Dermer whisks around her kitchen preparing an almost unimaginable feast for the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. The menu includes six briskets, sweet and sour meatballs, a vegetable soufflé and tzimmes, a traditional Jewish dish of carrots, sweet potatoes, honey and prunes.

Sutker-Dermer cherishes these moments when she can enjoy the company of her family.

In her professional life, Sutker-Dermer is the presiding judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County's Second Municipal District in Skokie. Despite her duties and extended hours, she also makes her family and community a priority.

“My days are very full,” said Sutker-Dermer, who began her legal career as a Cook County assistant state's attorney in the early 1980’s. After receiving her law degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, she was appointed judge in 1995, elected in 1996 and re-elected in 2002.

By Erica Christoffer

Ten days into her job as leader of Chicago's Office of Professional Standards, Ilana Rosenzweig is considering changes to the agency, whose job is to investigate complaints against police officers.

Rosenzweig was approved as chief administrator of the new agency Sept. 5, as covered by the Columbia Chronicle. She faced alderman Sept. 19 to address coercion and how her office would handle such charges.

Coercion was not specifically included in OPS' responsibilities, but some officials and advocates, including Cook County Public Defender Harold Winston, think it should be.