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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
CALLING FOR A MEETING OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE ISSUES SURROUNDING ELECTRONIC MONITORING
WHEREAS, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has communicated that too many violent offenders are being released on electronic monitoring while awaiting trial, and
WHEREAS, Cook County has made significant strides in criminal justice reform that have resulted in a much lower population at the Cook County Jail, and
WHEREAS, criminal justice reform is a crucial issue, but it must be approached in a common-sense matter, and
WHEREAS, individuals accused of violent crimes deserve every civil right, but the County court system should not be returning those accused of violent crimes to the streets at the cost of all other residents of the County, and
WHEREAS, as more individuals are released on electronic monitoring instead of sitting in the County jail, the Sheriff’s office must be given the resources necessary to appropriately keep track of those individuals, and
WHEREAS, the County Board needs to be kept apprised of any issues surrounding criminal justice reform because it is the fiduciary body of the jail and probation systems, and
WHEREAS, the State’s Attorney of Cook County, the Public Defender, the Sheriff and the Chief Judge of the circuit court shall appear or send a representative to testify about this issue before the Criminal Justice committee of the County Board.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Cook County Board of Commissioners and the President of the Board that representatives from the State’s Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, the Chief Judge’s Office, and the Sheriff’s Office shall appear before the Criminal Justice Committee to discuss the issue of violent offenders being released on electronic monitoring.
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