Chicago Torture Justice Center

Chicago Torture Justice Center Communities Healing from Police Violence. The Center is a part of and supports a movement to end all forms of police violence.

The Chicago Torture Justice Center seeks to address the traumas of police violence and institutionalized racism through access to healing and wellness services, trauma-informed resources, and community connection. The Chicago Torture Justice Center (CTJC) is a community center for Chicago police torture survivors. CTJC was established as a result of a historic Reparations Ordinance passed by the C

hicago City Council in May 2015. The Reparations Ordinance provides redress for racially-motivated police torture orchestrated by Chicago Police Department Commander, Jon Burge between 1972-1991. Over 110 predominantly African-American men were tortured into giving false confessions by Burge and officers under his command. These men spent decades wrongfully imprisoned and were denied their freedom; even after evidence proved that they were tortured. After decades of fighting for justice, Chicago became the first municipality in the United States to provide reparations to those harmed by racially-motivated law enforcement violence in May 2015.The Reparations Ordinance included the creation of a community center informed by the needs of survivors of police torture, their family members, and community members. CTJC is the first community center in the United States that provides specialized trauma services to those tortured by law enforcement officers with the country. We are a part of and support a movement to end all forms of police violence.

***NEW HOURS OF OPERATION***
Monday - Office OPEN 10am-6pm
Tuesday - Office CLOSED/Staff Remote 10am-6pm
Wednesday - Office OPEN 10am-6pm
Thursday - Office OPEN 10am-6pm
Friday - Office CLOSED/Staff Remote 10am-6pm

04/27/2026

URGENT UPDATE: The Fight for Erika Ray Continues

Today was a difficult day in the courtroom. Judge Charles Burns dismissed Erika Ray’s petition for a new trial, despite evidence presented regarding prosecutorial misconduct and ineffective legal counsel.

The weight of this injustice led to a raw, emotional moment in the courtroom. Erika’s daughter, overwhelmed by the ruling, was held in contempt and is currently being held at Cook County Jail. While her sentence was reduced from six months to two months, her detention adds a new layer of hardship to a family already fighting for their lives.

What’s Next:

The Appeal: Attorney Steve Becker is moving this case to the Illinois Appellate Court. We believe the law and the facts are on Erika’s side.

Community Support: We are currently assessing the best ways to support the family during this time.

The case is off the local docket for now, but our work is far from over. We will continue to demand a legal system that values truth over finality.

03/20/2026

What sent many of you to prison are the chains that must be broken. The government has warehoused entire black and brown communities based upon hearsay in which some of you share this day, never realizing that the same hearsay is what chain you. .

03/05/2026

IDOC receives a budget for roughly 33 full-time physicians. Even though the monitor says staffing is “dangerously low” and advises IDOC to “increase budgeted physician staffing,” the department claims it’s in compliance with the consent decree’s staffing requirements without giving evidence as to how.

03/05/2026

The Illinois Department of Corrections - IDOC only employs the equivalent of 16 full-time physicians across its 29 correctional facilities, which house more than 30,000 people.

02/20/2026

Injustice Watch's guide to the March 2026 Cook County judicial primary elections.

02/17/2026

Address

6337 S. Woodlawn Avenue
Chicago, IL
60637

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm

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