November 15, 2017
Click here to read the full report.
Across the political spectrum in the United States, there is a growing consensus that too many people are locked up in jail because they do not have the money required for release. This report examines recent efforts to reduce the number of detainees in Cook County Jail by reforming practices in and around bond court and includes recommendations for improving data accessibility and coordination among the various agencies that make up the County criminal justice system.
The Civic Federation calls on Cook County criminal justice officials to follow the practices of other large metropolitan jurisdictions in more fully disclosing critical criminal justice data. According to the report, increased transparency will enable the public to have better informed discussions about criminal justice and the effective use of taxpayer dollars, ultimately empowering taxpayers to hold government officials more accountable.