CCSAO's 2022 Year-in-Review Report

2022

YEAR-IN-REVIEW

Kimberly M. Foxx, Cook County State’s Attorney

ACCOUNTABILITY. COLLABORATION. FAIRNESS. INTEGRITY. RESPECT.

Photo Credit: Booth Hansen. Rendering of the Bridgeview Courthouse.

Kim Foxx COOK COUNTY STATE’S ATTORNEY

A Message from State’s Attorney Foxx

It continues to be my honor to oversee the second-largest prosecutor’s office in the country, staffed with more than 1,200 dedicated civil-service professionals who work endlessley on behalf of the 5-million+ residents of Cook County. I am especially proud of my staff’s work in 2022 as we began to dispose of cases at pre-pandemic levels.

Since taking office, I have been committed to creating a transparent system where our work is grounded in data and evidence. The CCSAO is the first prosecutor’s office in the country to establish an open-data portal so that the people we serve can see and understand our work. That ongoing pledge is reflected in our 2022 Year-inReview Report. In this report, you will see that our commitment to transparency has not wavered.

In 2022, we approved nearly nine-out-of-ten adult felony cases presented to the office, established partnerships with well over 200 community-based small businesses and organizations, reached multiple milestones in the areas of policy and technologyintegration, and continued our work to address injustices and disparities in the criminal justice system.

We recognize that our role is not simply to convict, but to seek equitable and fair justice for every individual, regardless of identity, economic status and zip code.

Sincerely,

Kimberly M. Foxx Cook County State’s Attorney

laws surrounding child support, civil, domestic violence, fraud and immigration

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) works on behalf of Cook County residents to prosecute violations of the criminal law of the State of Illinois, and regulatory laws surrounding child support, civil, domestic violence, fraud and immigration services. The Office prosecutes tens-of-thousands of cases each year across the 100+ law enforcement jurisdictions in Cook County.

CCSAO Quick Facts

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is the second-largest prosecutor’s office in the United States, representing over five million residents in Cook County.

Each year, over 30,000 felony cases are presented to the CCSAO for prosecution.

Six bureaus and four independent units make up the structure of the CCSAO..

Over 1,200 dedicated civil professionals work at the CCSAO, including 600+ attorneys, 115 investigators and 390+ administrative staff.

State’s Attorney Kim Foxx is the first African American woman to lead the CCSAO.

The CCSAO Seal

CCSAO Mission, Vision & Values

Mission

To do justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities.

Vision

A safer, stronger Cook County.

Values

Accountability - Transparency is critical to efficiently and effectively fulfill our public safety mission. Our work is grounded in data and evidence, and we are committed to ensuring that the public can access that information.

Collaboration - While our first responsibility is to prosecute crime, we also have the power to impact lives. We work with our community, law enforcement, legislative partners and business stakeholders on ways to improve outcomes for individuals affected by the criminal justice system.

Fairness - The criminal justice system can be unfair to segments of the population that have been historically marginalized. We work to advocate for a more fair system that prioritizes people and reform over convictions.

Integrity - Our moral responsibility demands that we protect the innocent, take all allegations of crime and abuse seriously, work to convict those guilty of crime, and respect the rights of all those impacted by the criminal justice system. Our ethical responsibility is to ensure that our burden of proof is met so that we maintain the integrity of the profession and that we maintain prosecutorial integrity in every case.

Respect - In a system where corruption and forced confessions have left many people with a strong and understandable distrust for law enforcement and the justice system, we rebuild that trust by treating everyone with mutual respect and fairness, and following the law. Our role in the justice system demands that we respect the laws that govern society and preserve our democracy.

A Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

We interconnect diversity, equity and inclusion to foster a work culture grounded in fairness and respect. Our DEI commitment involves initiatives that promote equal access, opportunity, employment and a sense of belonging for every employee at the CCSAO.

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

ERGs are voluntary, employee-led groups that work together to cultivate camaraderie and teamwork through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion. ERGs create safe spaces for employees, and ensure that they have the necessary tools and connections to reach personal and professional goals. By contributing their diverse perspectives and experiences to decision-making processes, ERGs help the CCSAO better serve the many segments of culture and individuality represented in communities across Cook County.

In 2022, the CCSAO’s ERGs dedicated over 400 hours to community service and volunteerism.

List of CCSAO ERGs

• Ability Alliance Network

• Alianza

• Alliance for Black Leadership and Excellence

• Asian American & Pacific Islanders

• LGBTQ+ ERG

• Middle Eastern and North African

• Women’s Insight and Support through Education

69 W. Washington St.

Chicago, IL 60602

Executive Offices

28 N. Clark St.

Chicago, IL 60602

Child Support Enforcement

500 Richard J. Daley Center

Chicago, IL 60602

Appeals, Asset Forfeiture Unit

715 W. Maxwell St.

Chicago, IL 60607

Community Justice Center-Central

1100 S. Hamilton Ave.

Chicago, IL 60608

Juvenile Justice Bureau

2650 S. California Ave.

Chicago, IL 60608

Leighton Criminal Courts Building

Victim Witness Unit

5333 N. Western Ave.

Chicago, IL 60625

Community Justice Center-North

5100 W. Harrison St.

Chicago, IL 60644

Community Justice Center-West

555 W. Harrison St.

Chicago, IL 60607

First Municipal District

5600 Old Orchard Rd.

Skokie, IL 60077

Second Municipal District

2121 Euclid Ave.

Rolling Meadows, IL 60008

Third Municipal District

1500 Maybrook Ave.

Maywood, IL 60153

Fourth Municipal District

10220 S. 76th Ave.

Bridgeview, IL 60455

Fixth Municipal District

16501 Kedzie Ave.

Markham, IL 60428

Sixth Municipal District

Community Justice Center-South

CCSAO Offices & Locations

CCSAO Bureaus, Divisions & Units

Bureau of Administrative Services (BAS)

BAS consists of several hundred support personnel who handle all administrative tasks at the CCSAO. BAS keeps the office running on a day-to-day basis and provides support in the form of office managers, administrative supervisors, data entry clerks, administrative assistants, clerks, receptionists, mailroom/supply clerks, warehouse facility clerks, law clerks/paralegals, program assistants, and community liaisons.

Alternative Prosecution and Sentencing Unit (APSU)

APSU diverts offenders to one-of-26 courts, countywide, that focus on increasing public safety through principles of rehabilitation and restoration. Through deferred prosecution and treatment courts, offenders are given the opportunity to change their behavior and address underlying issues that may exist.

Criminal Prosecutions Bureau (CPB)

CPB is the largest bureau and is comprised of multiple divisions and units. At any given time, there are approximately 500 Assistant State’s Attorneys in the bureau who are dedicated to serving the residents of Cook County through the honest and vigilant prosecution of crimes.

Civil Actions Bureau (CAB)

CAB serves the public interest in many ways; including, representing the County in lawsuits brought on its behalf, defending County office holders and employees in lawsuits arising from their official duties, and representing the County in actions brought to collect funds owed for taxes and fees.

Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU)

CIU investigates claims of actual innocence based on new evidence. Its mission is to determine whether new evidence shows that an innocent person has been wrongfully convicted for a crime. After its review, CIU makes remedy recommendations (if any) to the State’s Attorney. The State’s Attorney makes the final decision on any corrective actions for individual cases.

CCSAO Bureaus, Divisions & Units Investigations Bureau (IB)

IB consists of more than 120 sworn officers who provide investigative and logistical support to Assistant State’s Attorneys in their preparation and presentation of cases. Investigators also complement and supplement local law enforcement efforts by providing them with investigative assistance, expertise and technical resources.

Juvenile Justice Bureau (JJB)

JJB’s holistic approach to justice is rooted in securing the best-suited outcome for families and minors with pending matters in the child protection and juvenile justice courts. JJB is comprised of two divisions: The Child Protection Division, which reviews and prosecutes cases in which children are alleged to be abused, neglected or dependent; and the Juvenile Justice Division, which reviews and prosecutes offenses committed by juveniles.

Special Prosecutions Bureau (SPB)

Cases handled by SPB involve long-term proactive investigations that are supervised by experienced prosecutors with specialized knowledge and experience. SPB heads specialized investigations that attack the core operations of sophisticated criminal enterprises, including street gangs, public corruption and white collar crime. SPB has significantly increased the prosecution of police and public corruption, and has spear-headed new initiatives and legislative reforms in the areas of gang crimes, human-trafficking, mortgage fraud, identity theft, consumer fraud, and organized theft and fencing.

Photo Credit: Antonio Perez, Chicago Tribune

12Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office

Mile ston es

Adult Felony Review

& Prosecution

86%

Approval Rate

In 2022, the CCSAO reviewed and made a charging decision for 15,760 adult felony cases. 13,590 cases were approved, resulting in an 86% approval

Top Prosecuted Adult Felony Categories

Unlawful Use of Weapons: 6,996 prosecuted. 5,455 guilty.

All incidents for the data in this section occurred in Cook County from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, 2022. The data does not include misdemeanor charges.

80%

Conviction Rate

In 2022, the CCSAO prosecuted 21,309 cases. 16,772 of those cases were filed by the CCSAO, not law enforcement. 13,421 of the cases filed by the CCSAO were convicted, resulting in an 80% conviction rate.

Narcotics: 4,753 prosecuted. 1,904 guilty.

In 2022, the CCSAO approved nearly 9-of-10 fully-reviewed adult felony cases submitted by its law enforcement partners.

Aggravated DUI:

1,085 prosecuted. 994 guilty.

Adult Felony Domestic Violence (DV) Cases

Approval Rate

In 2022, the CCSAO reviewed and made a charging decision for 512 adult felony DV cases. 461 cases were approved, resulting in an 90% approval rate.

90% 85%

Conviction Rate

In 2022, the CCSAO prosecuted 468 cases, 396 of the cases were convicted by the CCSAO.

A Data-Driven CCSAO

We’re committed to data transparency and accountability. Scan this QR code to utilize the CCSAO’s open datasets and dashboards.

The CCSAO data portals include dashboards on DV, felony and sexual assault cases. The open datasets contain tens of millions of data points dating back to the year, 2010.

2022 Bureau

Milestones

Admin Services

In 2022, the Bureau of Administration Services (BAS) oversaw the hiring of 222 people; including 144 ASAs, 24 investigators, and 54 individuals to the administrative staff.

72%

Criminal Prosecutions

In 2022, BAS modernized hiring processess with technological advancements in data tracking, automated hiring flows, and social integrations on Indeed and LinkedIn.

In 2022, the CCSAO referred 1,521 offenders to a diversion program. 704 of the individuals assigned to a program graduated. Diversion programs provide effective alternatives to traditional prosecution and incarceration. The CCSAO refers these individuals to diversion and rehabilitation services vs. sentencing them to custody.

After successful completion of a diversion program, charges are dismissed or vacated. However, information such as arrest records and charges filed still exists.

2022 Bureau

Milestones $2.6M 237

Civil Actions

In 2022, the Civil Actions Bureau’s (CAB) Child Support Division filed nearly 15,000 cases and won over $2.6 million in current child and medical support payments.

CAB’s Real Estate Tax Section saved over $180 million for the various taxing districts within Cook County, against commercial property tax challenges in Circuit Court.

CAB ensured that Cook County was the leading county in an early lawsuit against Big Pharma accountable for the modern opioid crisis that resulted in a $60 million settlement for the State.

Conviction Integrity

In 2022, the number of overall vacated convictions achieved under the administration of State’s Attorney Foxx reached an overall total of 237.

Total Watts-Related Vacated Convictions in 2022: 106.

The Conviction Integrity Unit had great success with testing old DNA evidence using new technology and started developing protocols for the preservation of current evidence.

Photo Credit: Camille Fine, Chicago Tribune via AP

18Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office

2022 Bureau

Milestones, Cont’d Investigations Bureau

20K 4K+

Juvenile Justice

In 2022, the Investigations Bureau (IB) responded to 20,190 investigative requests for service.

IB’s Public Corruption team’s investigation into possible embezzlement occurring in the Harvey School District led to the arrest of a high-ranking public official, who was charged with misappropriating well over $1.4 million.

IB investigators evaluated over 8,000 cyber tips and participated in multiple investigations and arrests with the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

In 2022, over 4,500 cases were presented to the Juvenile Justice Bureau (JJB), and included case screenings by the Juvenile Justice Division and Child Protection Division.

1,180 new cases for families were screened by the Child Protection Division in 2022. The new cases involved allegations of abuse, neglect and dependency of children.

Balanced and restorative justice

continues to be in the forefront of the Juvenile Justice Division’s commitment to fair justice for the community as a whole. The division seeks the bestsuited outcome for victims and youthful offenders.

2022 Policy Milestones

Cannabis Expungement

In April 2022, the CCSAO presented 214 additional cannabis cases to be automatically expunged, bringing the total to 15,191 expungements since the legalization of marijuana in Illinois.

Throughout the Cannabis Expungement Project, expunged convictions were removed from individuals’ records as though they never happened. Once that record was removed, the Clerk of the Circuit Court mailed or emailed a notice to the individual’s last known address. This relief was “automatic” and required no action from individuals with eligible convictions.

Pretrial Fairness

Using the principles of bond reform that the CCSAO has spearheaded for over six years, in 2022, the CCSAO supported the Pretrial Fairness Act (PFA).

Staff participated in the PFA working group of stakeholders who reviewed projections from researchers on enhancements needed to ensure system sustainability for when PFA is enacted.

The CCSAO is monitoring the ongoing legal challenges of PFA implementation in Illinois and continues to prosecute cases based on the law.

2022 Policy

Milestones

Resentencing Initiative

In the interests of public safety and justice, the CCSAO piloted the Resentencing Initiative that utilizes Senate Bill 2129 to review cases and identify incarcerated persons with sentences that may be eligible for resentencing of justice.

Senate Bill 2129 went into effect on January 1, 2022 and allows prosecutors, at their discretion, to motion to resentence incarcerated persons whose original sentence no longer advances the interests of justice.

The Resentencing Initiative builds on State’s Attorney Foxx’s commitment to enact criminal justice reforms that are based on science, data, and the evolution of justice.

Search Warrants

The CCSAO released a new policy for its law enforcement partners designed to increase accountability in requesting and executing search warrants. The new guidance for allows the CCSAO to better understand the accuracy of information provided by police and informants, and protect residents from inappropriate intrusion. A new digital database tracks search warrant requests throughout the process, including the details presented for issuance, whether it was carried out, and the evidence found.

Com mun ity

Community Engagement

To help advance our mission and vision for a safer Cook County, establishing meaningful relationships with businesses, leaders, organizations, residents and other stakeholders in the community is essential. Our Community Engagement Team continuously secures our footprint in the community by spearheading grassroots initiatives centered in education, economic development, youth advancement, intervention and prevention services, and more.

Community Leadership Awards 2022

State’s Attorney Foxx annually observes national cultural awareness months by honoring notable Cook County leaders for their exemplary work in community services, youth empowerment, and social justice for the betterment of Cook County and its residents.

2022 Honorees

Asian American Community Leadership Award

• Honorable Sanju Oommen Green, Associate Judge

• Grace Chan McKibben

C.F. Stradford

Award in observance of Black History Month

• Cook County Public Defender Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr.

• Honorable Erica L. Reddick, Circuit Judge

• Cheryl Graves, Founder of the Community Justice For Youth Institute

El Humanitario Award in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month

• Honorable Eric M. Sauceda, Associate Judge

• Celena Roldán, CEO, American Red Cross of Illinois

Pride Recognition Award in observance of Pride Month

• Honorable Stephanie K Miller, Associate Judge

• Kirk Williamson, Renown Art Director & Creative

• Jay Paul Deratany, Founder of Deratany & Kosner in Chicago

Citizens Academy, Youth Edition

The CCSAO’s Citizens Academy, Youth Edition program launched in 2022 with TA98 as its first ever participant. TA98 is a local social services non-profit that combats unemployment among 18-24YOs.

Throughout the program, Assistant State’s Attorneys (ASAs) and the CCSAO community engagement team provided the group with weekly, one-on-one topic discussions on prosecution and operations within the Cook County Justice System.

Weekly course topics include:

• Juvenile 101: A functional overview of the juvenile proceedings process.

• Law of Accountability: A deep dive into felony vs. misdemeanor.

• Cyber Safety: A discussion on the relationship between technology and the law.

• Mock Trial: Youth will engage in case study mock trial.

Program registration is available anytime throughout the year. Interested groups should email SAOCommunityEngagement@CookCountyIL.gov for details.

Feedback from a 2022 participant in the Citizens Academy, Youth Edition.

T98 participants in the inaugural 2022 CCSAO Citizens Academy, Youth Edition.

“I liked being able to see myself in the ASAs that I interacted with. It was cool to hear their journeys and learn how similar their backgrounds are to mine.”

Keeping Up with Kim

In 2022, the Community Engagement Team coordinated a series of community-talk events titled, Keeping Up with Kim. The events included keynotes, audience Q & A, and panel discussions featuring State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, community leaders and public officials.

The series of community-based conversations enabled residents to meet State’s Attorney Foxx and have their voices amplified in our mission to create a safer and more equitable Cook County. The initiative has become a integral part of the Office’s continued community engagement strategy and is thriving in 2023.

Communities Reached During the 2022 Community-Talk Series

• Chicago Heights, IL

• Maywood, IL

• Pilsen, Chicago

• South Shore, Chicago

In 2022, State’s Attorney Foxx and the CCSAO engaged with over 1,000 residents through the ‘Keeping Up with Kim’ community-talk events.

Community Justice Centers

Community Justice Centers (CJCs) were founded on the principle that prosecutors have a responsibility not only to prosecute cases but to solve public safety problems, prevent crime and improve the quality of life for communities. Each CJC is staffed with an administrator, community liaison and Assistant State’s Attorney who work together to prevent crime through the presentation of seminars, workshops and speaking engagements to inform and educate citizens on crime-related issues.

CJC Locations

Community Justice Center, Central

715 W. Maxwell Street

Chicago, IL 60607

Community Justice Center, North 5333 N. Western Avenue

Chicago, IL 60625

Community Justice Center, South

16501 Kedzie Avenue

Markham, IL 60428

Community Justice Center, West

5100 W. Harrrison Steet

Chicago, IL 60644

In 2022, CJCs engaged with the community over 900 times at various events, volunteer opportunities, and partnership events with local business owners, law enforcement agencies, churches and charities, youth orgs, and social service agencies.

In Spring 2022, CJC-South staff, pictured here, partnered with Phalanx Family Services to offer a positive outlet for students on spring break

Cover Photo Credit: Cook County Sheriff’s Office