Cook County Pretrial Stakeholders’ Group
Nearly three-quarters of the men and women in Cook County Jail are held accused, but not convicted, of non-violent crimes. Many defendants could be safely released before trial, but cannot afford their bond. The human cost is high: while detainees await trial, their lives are interrupted, often affecting their housing, employment, education, and relationships. The cost to taxpayers is also high: as the nation’s second-largest jail, Cook County Jail costs Illinois taxpayers more than $300 million annually. At the same time, those who are a threat to society should not be allowed to buy their way out of jail while awaiting trial.
Recognizing these costs, in 2013, Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle asked the Illinois Supreme Court to intervene. The Court produced an audit with 40 recommendations to reduce the number of low-risk defendants being detained and to ensure that those who pose a threat are not released. In fall 2014, Civic Consulting Alliance began working with the Cook County Board President, Clerk of the Circuit Court, Sheriff, Public Defender, Chief Judge, and State's Attorney—the Cook County Pretrial Stakeholders’ Group—to implement the audit recommendations.
Since 2014, Civic Consulting Alliance has provided strategic project management to the Stakeholders’ by: convening the Stakeholders’ quarterly; guiding project implementation planning; and monitoring initiative performance.
“Civic Consulting Alliance has been integral to our collaborative’s success. We are proud of the reduction in jail population we have seen over the past five years, and Civic Consulting Alliance provided the organization and expertise that we needed to work together towards this goal.”
Outputs
Convened the Cook County Board President, Public Defender, State's Attorney, Sheriff's Office, Chief Judge, and Clerk of the Circuit Court and other criminal justice stakeholders quarterly to align on reforms to Cook County’s bond court
Outcomes
57% fewer people detained every day in Cook County Jail than in 2013, bringing the daily jail population to its lowest level since 1991
Less than 1% of felony defendants released on bond were charged with committing a new violent offense
Over the past year, the number of defendants who have been deemed a threat and not given the opportunity for bail increased by nearly 20%
