Chicago City Wire

Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke is facing scrutiny five months into her term, as Sheriff Tom Dart attributes a rise in Cook County jail numbers to her policies. According to the Chicago Tribune, Dart is "tracking" Burke’s policies, following concerns by criminal justice reform advocates over increased detentions.

Sheriff Dart previously relinquished control of the county's electronic monitoring (EM) program to the Circuit Court of Cook County due to safety concerns with monitoring individuals charged with violent offenses. The shift prompted questions about whether this transition contributed to rising jail numbers, considering defendants on EM previously received "good time" credits allowing some to serve part of their sentences at home.

Cook County Board President, Toni Preckwinkle, assigned the EM program to Chief Judge Timothy Evans, transferring enforcement tasks to the understaffed and overburdened Chicago Police Department, which lacks access to defendants' case files. Concerns have mounted over the EM program's performance in ensuring public and officer safety, accentuated by a case resulting in the death of Mirela Beldie, despite protective measures via EM.

The Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA), going into effect in September 2023, sought to reduce jail numbers, cutting them by 10 percent. However, the measure included policies such as mailing reminders to defendants, resulting in thousands of re-arrests, according to former Clerk of the Circuit Court, Iris Martinez.

The Chicago Tribune highlighted a 12 percent rise in jail population in recent months. However, figures show similar numbers before and after the PFA’s enactment, with both standing near 7,200 detainees.

Since taking office, Burke has aimed to reduce violent crime, resulting in a 47 percent rise in detention orders by March, with a particular focus on domestic battery offenses, which increased by 81 percent. Reports suggest around 20 percent of violent offenders were on bail for prior felonies when re-arrested.

Critics argue Cook County's criminal justice reforms, driven by Preckwinkle, prioritize reduced incarceration rates over victims' justice. Preckwinkle, a key figure in local politics, faces criticism for prioritizing cost-cutting and ideological objectives in jail population management. Meanwhile, advocacy for speeding up the judicial process and enhancing transparency remains secondary.

Burke's tenure is marked by her efforts to intensify the State's Attorney’s Office mission of public protection, even as Preckwinkle and allies may oppose her through budgetary or political means. While stakeholders debate reform effectiveness, Burke's focus remains on addressing violent crime, contributing to a decline in citywide violent crime rates.