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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CALLING FOR A HEARING ON IMPROVING THE “LAST MILE" OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, INCLUDING THE SERVICE OF ORDERS OF PROTECTION, FOID REVOCATION ENFORCEMENT, AND ELECTRONIC MONITORING VIOLATIONS
WHEREAS, the goal of the criminal justice system is to provide safety for society, protection for victims and just application of the law for the accused. The ability to achieve these goals depends on 1) the crafting of effective, fair legislation, 2) provision of equally rigorous prosecution and defense, 3) the thoughtful discernment of judges and issuance of judicial orders, and 4) effective enforcement of those orders in real time; and
WHEREAS, the “last mile of criminal justice” refers to the critical final stage of implementation in which law enforcement agencies, courts, and other partners must ensure that the products of judicial review other than incarceration: orders of protection, electronic monitoring (EM) conditions and Firearm Owner’s Identification (FOID) card revocation result in the timely execution of those orders; and
WHEREAS, challenges to effective enforcement undermine public safety and victim protections. According to the Cook County Sheriff’s data, approximately 45% orders of protection go unserved. According to the Cook County Sheriff’s report on FOID revocation, 68% percent of owners of revoked FOID cards do not comply with the transfer of firearms. While Cook County has strengthened EM protocols, there have been recent high-profile incidents linked to unauthorized absences of EM participants; and
WHEREAS, high rates of failure to protect survivors, family members and the larger community in the last mile require the consideration and use of new tools and recourse, including adapting technology to community safety; and
WHEREAS, survivors of violence rely upon the timely service and enforcement of orders of protection as an immediate safeguard against harm. Insufficient staffing, lack of information and technology coordination between agencies, and inconsistent enforcement practices can undermine the effectiveness of court-issued protections; and
WHEREAS, the use of electronic communications in the transmission of orders of protection has been successfully implemented in other states and could be considered in Illinois; and
WHEREAS, while a FOID card has a very high bar for revocation including felony conviction, active orders of protection, domestic battery charges, or being deemed a “clear and present danger,” less than 30% of owners of revoked FOID cards comply with the surrender of firearms. For the safety and protection of family members and survivors, new enforcement mechanisms such as the inability to renew a drivers license while out of compliance with a firearms license should be considered; and
WHEREAS, electronic monitoring programs are intended to provide accountability, supervision, and public safety protections, yet concerns have been raised regarding monitoring compliance, response times to violations, interagency coordination, and enforcement capacity; and
WHEREAS, there is a massive investment of taxpayer resources to insure a well functioning criminal justice system and lapses in the “last mile” expose addressable failures and ultimately undermine safety; and
WHEREAS, a public hearing would provide an opportunity for the Cook County Criminal Justice Committee to hear testimony from law enforcement agencies, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Office of the Chief Judge, the Sheriff’s Office, advocates for survivors of violence, legal experts, community organizations, and impacted residents regarding existing challenges and potential reforms.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Cook County Criminal Justice Committee will convene a “Last Mile of Criminal Justice” hearing on June 9, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. to examine challenges, delays, and systemic gaps related to the service and enforcement of orders of protection, electronic monitoring compliance and enforcement, and FOID revocations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, the hearing shall evaluate current procedures, response timelines, interagency coordination practices, staffing capacity, data collection, and enforcement mechanisms to identify operational failures and opportunities for improvement.
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