Now Reading: Cook County State’s Attorney Declares Electronic Monitoring System ‘Broken,’ Demands Legislative Overhaul
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Cook County State’s Attorney Declares Electronic Monitoring System ‘Broken,’ Demands Legislative Overhaul
Cook County State’s Attorney Declares Electronic Monitoring System ‘Broken,’ Demands Legislative Overhaul
Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke is calling on Illinois residents to demand action from their state legislators, declaring that the state’s electronic monitoring system is “broken” and requires an immediate legislative overhaul.
In a recent interview first reported by CWB Chicago, Burke warned that the program, originally designed as a bond alternative for non-violent defendants, has expanded to include highly dangerous individuals. Currently, Cook County has 87 defendants charged with murder or attempted murder and 181 charged with sexual assault out on electronic monitoring. Even more alarming, roughly 10% to 12% of the county’s 3,200 monitored defendants—over 300 individuals—are currently unaccounted for.
Unmonitored ‘Free-to-Roam’ Days
Burke highlighted several statutory flaws, including a state mandate granting defendants a minimum of two “free-to-roam” days per week during which they are not monitored. According to Burke, some violent offenders have used this unmonitored time to commit new violent crimes.
Additionally, defendants receive day-for-day sentencing credit while on electronic monitoring, even on their free-to-roam days. Burke pointed to a high-profile animal abuse case where the defendant received a 4.5-year sentence but served zero days in prison because of time accrued on electronic monitoring at his parents’ home.
A Systemic Enforcement Gap
The system’s enforcement mechanism is also severely compromised. Since administration shifted from the Sheriff’s Office to the Chief Judge’s Office, non-law enforcement pretrial officers oversee the program. Violations do not trigger immediate arrests; instead, they enter a slow court process where warrants are often deprioritized unless a judge specifically issues an “expedited warrant.”
Burke urged the public to pressure lawmakers to establish clear statutory boundaries. “I think we can all agree murderers are inappropriate for electronic monitoring,” she said.
