Announcement, Press Release |
Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans welcomed a cohort of county leaders from across the country, Monday, for a National Association of Counties (NACo) peer exchange visit to Cook County. The visit marks the third and final in-person meeting for the CORE Justice Network, a program focused on empowering county leaders to identify and eliminate disparities in the local justice system.
Judge Evans spoke to the group about his 2017 efforts to eliminate cash bail in Cook County, which ultimately led to the statewide Pretrial Fairness Act, which was enacted in September 2023. He described the hard path to victory, which was often met with criticism from both the media and other elected officials, a fight he maintained was well-worth the struggle to ensure defendants were not jailed based, solely, on their ability to pay.
“What I’m hoping is that you will take note of what I’m saying, and you will talk to your judges and your legislators about eliminating cash bail in your state and in your county,” Evans told the group, which included participants from nine counties. “I’m not promising you an easy route if you decide to take my advice and take getting rid of cash bail back to your community. But I assure you it’s right.”
Over two days, participants from nine counties toured the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center and participated in discussions on a range of topics including the impact of Chief Judge Evans’ cash bail reform, Restorative Justice Community Courts, Problem-Solving Courts and more. Attendees heard from local leaders in Cook County including elected leaders, judges and program directors in the justice space, as well as experts outside local government, including representatives from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
Launched in 2023, the CORE Justice Network is a group of county officials working to drive change in the local justice system, focusing on innovative, county-led approaches to equity. Over the course of two years, the cohort explored policies, practices and programs with measurable impact on justice-involved populations. The initiative is funded through a grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and is part of NACo’s broader portfolio on county best practices and innovation in behavioral health and justice.
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