Cook County Criminal Justice Committee Meeting - June 9, 2026

The Criminal Justice Committee of the Cook County Board met on June 9, 2026, at 9:15 AM (17:15 UTC) to discuss criminal justice reforms, including a resolution on the "last mile" of criminal justice focusing on electronic service of orders of protection, FOID revocation enforcement, and electronic monitoring. The meeting featured a presentation by State Senator Lakeisha Collins on three pending bills, public testimony on the Pretrial Fairness Act and domestic violence court issues, and statements from criminal justice stakeholders.

Consent Calendar

• Approval of Minutes: Motion by Commissioner Stamps to approve the minutes from May 13, 2026 (Item 26-1677) was seconded by Commissioner McCaskill and passed unanimously.
• Resolution 26-1526: Commissioner Gaynor moved to approve as amended a proposed resolution calling for a hearing on the last mile of criminal justice, including service of orders of protection, FOID revocation enforcement, and electronic monitoring violations. Seconded by Commissioner Daly, the motion passed unanimously. All present members were added as co-sponsors.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Catherine Crawford (Policy Advisor, Illinois Network for Pretrial Justice) expressed full support for the Pretrial Fairness Act, stating that over 160,000 people have been released pretrial in Cook County since implementation, with 94% returning to court without new person-offense charges. She urged the committee to base policy on data, not isolated incidents, and called on State's Attorney Burke to release case-level pretrial detention data.
• Shakila Fro (Apnagar) spoke in support of the Pretrial Fairness Act, highlighting how it allows judges to assess risk rather than financial ability to pay bond, citing a case where a survivor's order of protection was undermined by the previous money bond system.
• Elena Crowley criticized the domestic relations division, alleging that Judge Maritza Martinez improperly vacated an order of protection by excluding her from a Zoom hearing, and that no investigation or prosecution occurred. She demanded that the committee address judicial misconduct.
• John McHugh apologized to Commissioner Miller for past statements, expressed support for her work, and detailed alleged violations in his own case, including false accusations of firearm ownership. He criticized the system for ignoring constitutional challenges.
• Sophia Van Pelt (Senior Policy Analyst, Better Government Association) supported the Pretrial Fairness Act, citing statistics that 99% of electronic monitoring participants comply with program perimeters and that crime rates have decreased. She called on the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts (AOIC) to comply with mandatory data transparency obligations under the act.
• George Blakemore argued that the board has a moral obligation to address judicial corruption, rejecting Commissioner Britton's statement that the board has no authority over judges. He accused the board of being part of a one-party Democratic machine that perpetuates racism.
• Jessica Jackson accused Commissioner Britton of lying about the board's jurisdiction over judges, citing ARDC Rule 8.3 and alleging that the Inspector General referred complaints to the Chief Judge and Attorney General, which were not acted upon.
• Jackie Sample (domestic violence survivor) described how four judges in DuPage County facilitated financial abuse by accepting fraudulent affidavits, dissipating $700,000 in assets, and ignoring death threats. She asked whether elected officials would report criminal actions by judges to oversight agencies.
• Jennifer Barron (domestic violence survivor) detailed her 19-month separation from her daughter due to court proceedings that ignored evidence, including emergency hospitalizations. She called for prompt evidentiary hearings, trauma-informed qualifications for guardians ad litem, and stronger investigative protocols.
• Eddie Ingalls described a 12-year family court case involving alleged coordinated misconduct by attorneys, a guardian ad litem, and a custody evaluator. He stated that his home is under foreclosure and that he faces a trial to send his daughter to a European boarding school with impossible timelines.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 26-1526 and Legislative Proposals: Commissioner Gaynor introduced the resolution as a complement to the Domestic Violence Task Force, noting that service rates for orders of protection are currently 57.6% and firearm retrieval after FOID revocation is only 30%. State Senator Lakeisha Collins presented three bills: Senate Bill 2934 (electronic service of orders of protection), a bill tying FOID revocation compliance to driver's license suspension (60-day notice), and a bill on read-only data sharing for law enforcement. She emphasized that electronic service provides a receipt upon delivery and has been successful in Washington State, increasing court appearances. Commissioner Stamps questioned the 60-day window; Senator Collins responded it allows realistic compliance. Commissioner Miller asked how to build support; Senator Collins requested that commissioners contact their state legislators. Commissioner Degnan raised concerns about victim notification upon receipt; Senator Collins confirmed receipts will be provided. Commissioner Trevor asked about existing data from Washington State; Senator Collins offered to provide it.
• Stakeholder Testimony:
  • Gitu Nayek (Deputy Chief of Staff, Cook County Sheriff's Office) stated the Sheriff's Office supports both bills. She detailed service statistics: 57.6% success rate, with same-day service attempts at 72-73% and an average of 2.55 attempts on successful orders. For unserved orders, 92.9% were due to no contact with the respondent. The office has implemented technology-driven strategies and supports data sharing. Commissioner Naya asked about digitizing the tracking of firearm surrender forms; Nayek acknowledged it is paper-based but noted ongoing work.
  • Kate Nolan (Office of the Chief Judge) said the judiciary supports policies that increase service while ensuring due process. She emphasized that judges need proper notice and that the Chief Judge's office is committed to transparency and data sharing.
  • Eva Loizan (Assistant State's Attorney, Chief of Policy and External Affairs) stated the State's Attorney's Office supports electronic notification as a mechanism to get respondents into court, though it may not always provide sufficient evidence for violation prosecutions. She highlighted recent legislation passed to protect victims and witnesses from being videotaped near courthouses, and a new process at 555 West Harrison where police reports can be taken on-site for domestic violence cases.
  • Sharon Mitchell (Cook County Public Defender) expressed support for the legislation, noting that lack of notice harms both petitioners and respondents. He raised due process concerns but expressed confidence they can be worked through.
• Questions and Clarifications:
  • Commissioner Aguilar asked about the status of electronic monitoring under the Sheriff's Office; Nayek reported less than 200 individuals remain on electronic monitoring, with the transition progressing smoothly.
  • Commissioner Daly expressed surprise that the bills have not moved in Springfield despite a supermajority, and asked about the service process. Nayek explained that orders are often paper-based and transmitted manually, but the office aims for same-day service.
  • Commissioner Naya asked about data sharing and a public dashboard; Nayek confirmed the Sheriff's Office is working on making data public and shared it at the task force meeting.
  • Commissioner McCaskill asked whether electronic service will reduce unserved orders; Nayek said it will improve notification and likely increase service rates.
  • Commissioner Britton asked about judicial access to order of protection information in criminal court; Loizan explained that judges should have access but it is a separate system, and the State's Attorney's Office has recently improved access through the Clerk's Office.
  • Commissioner Vasquez asked about the State's Attorney's efforts to collect and publish case-level pretrial detention data; Loizan said the office is working on a better case management system but could not provide a timeline. She noted the current data dashboard uses data from the Clerk's Odyssey system.

Key Outcomes

• Resolution 26-1526 Approved: The committee voted unanimously to approve the resolution calling for a hearing on the last mile of criminal justice, including electronic service of orders of protection, FOID revocation enforcement, and electronic monitoring violations. All present members were added as co-sponsors.
• Support for State Legislation: The committee expressed support for Senator Collins' three bills (SB 2934, FOID revocation enforcement, and data sharing). Commissioners committed to advocating for the bills with state legislators and offering support from the Domestic Violence Task Force.
• Data Transparency: The committee and stakeholders agreed on the need for improved data sharing, including public dashboards from the Sheriff's Office and compliance by the AOIC with the Pretrial Fairness Act's data reporting requirements.
• Meeting Adjourned: The meeting was adjourned after the resolution vote. A brief recess was taken for the Finance Subcommittee on Workers' Compensation, which was called to order and then recessed to the call of the chair.