Civil Rights and Police Accountability Project

Craig Futterman supervises students in the Police Accountability Project (PAP), a start-up project that began in Fall 2000. The Project’s goals are to enhance police accountability and improve police services in Chicago.

Through the lens of live-client work, students study the nature of police accountability and misconduct in Chicago and the primary challenges to improving police services. Together, we examine how and where litigation fits into broader efforts to improve police accountability and ultimately our criminal justice system.

PAP provides legal representation to indigent victims of police abuse in federal civil rights cases, administrative proceedings, and state criminal and juvenile litigation. The Project takes on cases that would not ordinarily be brought by the private bar, focusing on those that have potential to raise public consciousness and to facilitate reform. Students work on all aspects of PAP’s litigation, from early case investigation and the filing of a complaint through all pretrial, trial and appellate advocacy.

In addition to its litigation activities, PAP has developed a number of programs and reform-oriented strategies in partnership with a diverse array of community, legal, and law enforcement groups. For example, PAP formed a partnership with public housing residents in Stateway Gardens, a recently demolished public housing community just a 10 minute drive away from the Law School, to address police accountability, service, and community relations issues. We developed a model community-based human rights documentation, advocacy, and self-help program in Stateway Gardens capable of emulation and adoption around the nation.

As with PAP’s litigation activities, students are fully integrated into PAP’s public education, policy reform, and community work.

Second year students wishing to enroll in the Project are strongly encouraged to take Evidence and Criminal Procedure I, early in their second year. Constitutional Law III is also recommended. Third year students are required to complete, prior to their third year: Evidence, Criminal Procedure I, either Pretrial Advocacy or Major Civil Litigation, and either the Intensive Trial Practice Workshop or Trial Advocacy. Enrollment in PAP is limited and preference will be given to students who have taken the Intensive Trial Practice Workshop and Pretrial Advocacy.