Insights & Information

Cook County's Justice Advisory Council has published a report with results from its study of the county's bond court and pre-trial services. County President Toni Preckwinkle announced on July 12 that implementation of initiatives recommended in the report are already underway. The study was conducted with cooperation by Chief Judge Timothy Evans, Clerk of the Court Dorothy Brown, Sheriff Tom Dart, State's Attorney Anita Alvarez, and Public Defender Abishi Cunningham, with a goal of improving conditions for people who have contact with bond court. President Preckwinkle has repeatedly noted concerns about the number of people with low-level charges detained in jail who do not truly represent a threat to public safety but are not released simply because they cannot afford to pay their bond. To read more in a piece by Sebastian James on Cook County's blog and to access the full report, click here. To read a July 17 letter to the editor in the Chicago Tribune co-authored by IACJ Chair and Vice Chair, click here.