Cook County Domestic Violence Data and Research Task Force First Working Group Meeting - April 22, 2026

On April 22, 2026, the Data and Research Working Group of the Cook County Domestic Violence/Gender-Based Violence Task Force held its inaugural meeting. The meeting brought together representatives from city, county, and state agencies to initiate a coordinated, government-wide approach to address domestic violence as a public safety crisis. The group heard a presentation on the scope of the problem, discussed existing data dashboards, identified critical data gaps, and outlined deliverables leading to a final report due in July 2026.

Introductions

• The meeting began with introductions led by Commissioner Bridget Degnan (co-chair, representing Chicago's north and northwest side) and Amy (likely a task force coordinator). Attendees included representatives from: Cook County Department of Public Health, Justice Advisory Council, Office of the Chief Judge, City Clerk's Office, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Fire Department, Office of Emergency Management and Communications, Cook County Sheriff's Office, Office of the First Deputy, Secretary of State's Office, Chicago Department of Public Health, and several aldermanic and commissioner staff.
• The working group is co-chaired by Commissioner Degnan and supported by Dr. Joshi (COO, Cook County Department of Public Health) and Christina Kalba (Justice Advisory Council).

Presentation & Discussion

• Katie (likely from the Justice Advisory Council) presented the group's background and goals. The effort originated two years ago after Alderman Tabaras and Commissioner Miller raised concerns about rising domestic violence homicides. A preliminary plan is in draft form.
• Key statistics highlighted:
  • Illinois has a higher per capita death rate from intimate partner homicide than New York and California combined.
  • Chicago's murder rate from intimate partners is higher than New York City and Los Angeles County combined (per capita).
  • In 2025, domestic-related fatalities in Chicago increased by 50% (later corrected to 55%) even as fatal shootings overall decreased by 33%.
  • 88% of domestic homicide victims in 2025 were minorities (71% African American, 17% Hispanic/Latino, 10% white).
  • The Office of the Inspector General reports 336 domestic-related calls per day to the Chicago Police Department, equating to one in four priority level one calls.
• The task force aims to create a new model for a coordinated system across all levels of government, improve data sharing, and produce a public dashboard for transparency and accountability.
• The group will meet approximately eight times before June 2026. A final report with recommendations and findings will be presented to the Cook County Board and Chicago City Council in July 2026.

Discussion on Data Gaps

• Sarah Smith (Cook County Sheriff's Office) noted that while the sheriff shares data, it is incomplete due to issues like missed service notifications and short-form filings. The task force can help identify ways to fill those gaps.
• AJ (Secretary of State's Office) asked what data points are currently recorded by law enforcement when domestic incidents are reported. Katie replied that the Inspector General's dashboard provides some clarity for Chicago, but similar work is needed countywide.
• Latrice Moore (Chicago Fire Department) confirmed that CFD does not currently document domestic violence as a separate category in patient records.
• Sergeant Cynthia Flores (CPD) explained that 911 calls are categorized by dispatchers, and officers provide a final disposition; some incidents are flagged as domestic later (e.g., after a homicide investigation).
• Kate Nolan (Office of the Chief Judge) raised the need to include the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County in this working group, as they maintain court data. It was noted that the clerk's office is part of the task force but was not present at this meeting. Katie agreed to follow up.

Existing Data Dashboards Reviewed

• Violence Reduction Dashboard (Chicago): The only dashboard currently containing domestic-related data; crucial for tracking city data.
• Office of the Inspector General Dashboard: Extensive data on first responder and public safety calls, but limited to Chicago agencies.
• Civic Committee Dashboard: New, focuses on violence reduction funding; no domestic data yet.
• Cook County Justice Dashboard (Loyola University): Provides criminal justice system data but not cross-sectoral domestic violence data.
• Participants were asked to review these dashboards and identify missing data elements, such as Chicago fire department data and suburban fire department data.

Key Outcomes & Next Steps

• The working group will meet regularly (approximately eight times) before June 2026.
• Immediate tasks include:
  • Reviewing existing dashboards and identifying data gaps.
  • Building a comprehensive list of data sources needed from all agencies.
  • Investigating the creation of a public dashboard with daily cross-sectoral data from city, county, and state sources.
  • Supporting other working groups (High Priority Orders, Court Systems, First Responder Health) with data and research.
• Amy will circulate meeting materials and compile a binder with recordings, transcripts, and shared files.
• The final report will be presented in July 2026 to the Cook County Board and Chicago City Council.
• No public comments were received. The meeting was adjourned by Commissioner Degnan.