Cook County Sheriff Aims To Reduce Jail Population

COOK COUNTY, IL — The Cook County Sheriff's Office aims to reduce the current population at Cook County Jail to help keep new coronavirus out of the facilities. To that end, the sheriff's office is working to get non-violent, low-level offenders to have their bond hearings expedited to speed up their release.

Those inmates who are at higher risk for coronavirus will be given priority, according to a recent news release from the Cook County Sheriff's Office.

A correctional officer at Cook County Jail has tested positive for new coronavirus, according to a press release from the sheriff's office. The correctional officer has been in isolation in their home since the case was confirmed.

The sheriff's office says it cleaned and disinfected the employee's work area and reviewed video to see who came into contact with the officer, who worked at Cermak Hospital and at the Residential Treatment Unit. According to the sheriff's office, none of those employees showed symptoms, but were furloughed home for 14 days as a precaution.

The jail also recently put a hold on inmate visits, except from lawyers and clergy, in a further effort to protect inmates. Inmates were given an additional 30 minutes of free time weekly for phone calls as well.

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office, the Office of the Chief Judge, and the Public Defender's Office have coordinated priorities as the circuit court system has been reduced to bail hearings, arraignments, preliminary hearings, bail reviews and emergency orders of protection and civil matters.

Chief Judge Tim Evans said judges were ready to handle bail reviews when both prosecutors and defense attorneys agree to allow the release of pre-trial defendants held in custody.

"We stand ready to handle these cases on an expedited basis so that judges may balance a defendant’s rights, public safety and public health," Evans said in a statemet. "There is no precedent for the current situation in which the court is operating. I want the public to know that the judiciary is prepared to work with the other stakeholders in the justice system to conduct as many reviews of bail as they request."

More: Prosecutors Stop Pursuing Drug Charges Due To Coronavirus Threat

On Friday, Sheriff Tom Dart took the further step of putting "comprehensive precautionary measures" into place in an effort to "protect staff, detainees and the public."

These measure include:

• Requesting personal protective equipment (PPE) from the federal government
• Creating additional areas at the jail for separation and quarantine by reopening closed buildings and requesting tents for outdoor areas
• Screening new detainees and people arrested with the Cook County
  Health COVID-19 questionnaire and temperature checks
• Creating a "receiving tier" for new detainees to be separated from the general population for seven days and be observed for symptoms. Those with no symptoms will be able to go to general population
• Working to implement teleconferenced bond hearings
• Prioritizing the service of orders of protection
• Screening people who enter court buildings
• Working to reduce transporting detainees to court
• Sharing messages with detainees about coronavirus symptoms and hand washing techniques
• Sharing messages with detainees about court closures and contacting attorneys to address any concerns

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