CHICAGO (AP) -- The Cook County sheriff's department says the county's jail population has fallen below 6,000 inmates for the first time in decades.
Sheriff Tom Dart's chief policy officer, Cara Smith, says the population at what's one of the nation's largest jails has been declining for some time in part because of a drop in arrests.
But she said Thursday the biggest change came in September, when Chief Judge Timothy Evans ordered county judges to set affordable bail amounts for defendants charged with nonviolent felonies. Judges are now more inclined to free defendants on their own recognizance pending trial.
Critics argue that the cash bond system unfairly targets the poor.
The Chicago Tribune reports that since Evans' order took effect, the jail's population has dropped by more than 1,500 inmates, to 5,909. Readers should also note that as recently as June 2010, the average daily jail population was 9,500. One should be concerned as to what those 3,500 would be prisoners are up to every jail.
Seen several released inmates walkind down Western av. In Beverly.
ReplyDeleteAnd carjackings and armed robberies in previously safe neighborhoods like the 19th ward are on the rise. Nice job Sheriff.
ReplyDeleteSo, our real estate taxes should be going down, right?
ReplyDeleteWhy does Ald. O shea have a body guard?
DeletePlease explain
DeleteAnd Pat Quinn was doing the same things with the State DOC... 5 years in Stateville equals 18 mos served.
ReplyDeleteGet your CCL!!!
ReplyDeleteQuit telling people that. You don’t need a ccl to tell you your in fear for your life. Shot the sob and don’t worry about. If you get a ticket or arrested for not having a ccl it will not hold up in court.
DeleteThis is what happens when you elect a politician instead of a sheriff.
ReplyDeleteC'mon Liddle Tommy is trying his hardest. Plus he rocks that toupee.
ReplyDelete