Chief Judge Asks for $259M in 2019 Cook County Budget, $3.2M more than President's Proposed Budget

Cook County Board Finance Committee - Departmental Budget Hearings
October 25, 2018

Chief Judge

Commissioners present:  Boykin, Goslin, Deer, Morrison, Schneider, Tobolski, Silvestri, Daley

Chief Judge - Tim Evans
Remarks:   

• The Judge asked for $259 million which is $3.2 million higher than the President’s budget for 2019.
• Expects to close two branch court houses in early January:  Belmont/Western and 51st and Wentworth.  Transportation vouchers will be provided to defendants for about 30 days after the closings to allow them to get to the new court location.
• Has not received the Court Utilization Study yet but says that he has received recognition for reducing the jail population, using the safety assessment tool, and use of specialty courts.
• Stated that the jail population as of October 25, 2018 stands at 5,991
• Responded “yes” to Commissioner Daley’s inquiry about having answered the LWV Cook County’s Electronic Monitoring questions, but did not elaborate.

Commissioner’s Questions:
Silvestri:   Q:  Where will the defendants of closed courts go.  Ans: Grand & Central will pick up the Belmont cases and 111th Street will pick up the 51st and Wentworth cases.

Boykin:  Urged more Restorative Justice Community Courts beyond the one in Lawndale.
Ans:  A second court will be coming to Austin followed by Englewood.  Evans noted that a courtroom isn’t needed.  A room with a circular chair set up and good security are the two main facility requirements.
Boykin asked how many teens are in the Juvenile Temporary Detention Facility.  Ans:  189 of which 21 to 25 are female.
Boykin then asked if the Judge had everything needed for the electronic monitoring system (EM).  Ans:  Evans noted Sheriff Dart’s objections to some releases to EM but reminded the Commissioners that the law calls for pre-trial release unless there is a “clear and present danger”.   Dart had said that 9 people charged with murder were put on EM.  Judge Evans said that 1-2 were police officers and the other 7 were higher risks but presumed innocent and put on EM because they were not assessed as a clear and present danger.  He went on to say that he has received a pledge from stakeholders to stand behind judges when [not if] a released defendant commits a major crime while released and awaiting trial.  He stated that 9 out of 10 on EM to date commit no crime during release or fail to appear in court.

Deer:  Thanked Evans for his work and his compassion and said he is impressed by the Juvenile Detention Center and the Lawndale Restorative Justice Courts.

Daley:  Commended the Restorative Justice Court and said that more are needed.

​Observer -  Diane Edmundson                                           Meeting Length:  45 min.