Illinois legislature passed an amendment in 2016 giving victims of domestic violence the chance to present the abuse as a basis for mitigating sentences for crimes they committed. After initial resistance by Cook County prosecutors, that office is now taking an expansive interpretation of whether victims of abuse that was relevant to their crimes can win relief.
Author Archives: Olivia Stovicek
Olivia Stovicek (reporting fellow) graduated with honors from the University of Chicago in 2017 with a bachelor’s degree in biological chemistry and chemistry. Olivia has written and edited for nonprofit newsmagazine the South Side Weekly in various capacities, including managing editor, deputy editor, and director of fact-checking. She has also worked as a science communication intern at the University of Chicago’s technology transfer office and an editor at undergraduate science publication The Triple Helix. Olivia’s interests in science and journalism converge in both disciplines’ shared dedication to seeking and sharing truth, and she is particularly interested in using these skills to shed light on systemic injustice. Before joining Injustice Watch as a reporting fellow, she served as a summer intern.
