Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County Archives

NEW—The Impact of the Pretrial Fairness Act on Electronic Monitoring in Cook County: Report

Today, Chicago Appleseed published a new report, The Impact of the Pretrial Fairness Act on Electronic Monitoring in Cook County, examining the impacts of the legislative reforms on Cook County’s pretrial electronic monitoring (EM) system. These reforms, initiated as part of the Pretrial Fairnes...

Cook County Jail’s First COVID-19 Death Could (and Should) Have Been Prevented

Jeffrey Pendleton is the first person known to have died after contracting COVID-19 in the Cook County Jail. His infection and eventual death were avoidable and preventable. Each and every government actor who objected to his release—or contributed to his incarceration in the first place—played a ro...

[VIDEO] Chicago Appleseed on “In The Loop” Channel 20 (PBS WYCC), discussing Bond Court

I was a panelist on the November 20th episode of "In The Loop" on Channel 20 (PBS Chicago, WYCC) at 7:00pm CST. My co-panelists were former Public Defender of Cook County, Professor Randolph Stone and Commissioner John Fritchey. The topic was reforming Cook County's Bond Court. As we've discusse...

Chief Judge Evans Commits to Reform Bond Court and Create Adult Restorative Justice Programs at Reclaim Campaign Public Action

Last Thursday, July 24, the Community Renewal Society held a large public action with 500 congregants and Chief Judge Timothy Evans to call on the Chief Judge to institute specific reforms creating an Adult Restorative Justice diversion program and moving the County away from monetary bonds. ...

CC license attribution by Eric Allix Rogers

Taskforce, Including Preckwinkle, Evans, and Alvarez, Visits Washington D.C. to Review Pretrial System; and a Warning About the Expanded Use of Electronic Monitoring

Stakeholder Trip and Continuing Meetings on Bond Court Reform Last week, the Illinois Supreme Court issued a release describing the recent two-day trip, arranged by the Illinois Supreme Court, for the heads of the relevant Cook County agencies to review and glean the benefits of Washington D.C.’s a...

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