The cost of police-related settlements has skyrocketed this year, smashing past records to become a bona fide financial crisis. Aldermen have approved $223.2 million in such settlements since January, a sum sure to rise in the coming months that trounces the previous record of $110.6 million in 2022. Johnson and the City Council budgeted just $82.6 million for settlements and legal costs this year. Not included in that sum is a $120 million jury verdict in another wrongful conviction case that went to trial earlier this year.
A largely unasked question is becoming glaring: Is Illinois doing all it should to use artificial intelligence to make government cost less and work better? So far, the evidence says no.
Is this a jury- driven alternative to providing reparations? Or simply a way to reward lawyers’ political contributions?