League of Women Voters of Cook County
  • Home
  • About
    • LWVCC Interest Groups >
      • Cook County & MWRD Group
      • Criminal Justice
      • Cook County Health
      • Forest Preserve Interest Group
    • LWVCC Positions
    • LWVCC Action and Testimony
    • LWVCC Activities
    • Archived Newsletters
  • Observer Reports
    • Cook County Board Observer Reports
    • MWRD Board Observer Reports
    • CCH Board Observer Reports
    • Forest Preserve Board Observer Reports
  • Voter Info
  • Cook County Gov. Contacts
    • Cook County Board
    • Forest Preserve Board
    • Cook County Elected Officials
    • MWRD Board
    • Cook County Health Board

Cook County Board - Criminal Justice Committee and Pension Committee

10/2/2022

0 Comments

 

Cook County Board - Criminal Justice Committee Meeting
September 21, 2022
​

Big controversy over Cook County Court use of SCRAM devices
Lots of contradictory points  were made by justice groups, public defender office, and some Commissioners vs. the Chief Judge’s Office regarding the Court use of SCRAM ankle bracelets for DUI and other alcohol-related defendants.  These devices measure perspiration to determine if the offender has consumed alcohol.  The wearer is to avoid all alcohol consumption.
Points made by Jim Anderson, CFO of Chief Judge Office:
  • the office is pleased with the results.  Rarely is their a failure to comply by defendants/offenders
  • judges are the ones to order this device as a deterrent from incarceration 
  • considered a diversion program and is combined with treatment programs
  • court and other penalty fees are waived if using SCRAM device and avoiding alcohol
  • all contracts with SCRAM are in compliance with state law and county ordinances
  • demographics of defendants on SCRam - currently 123 defendants on SCRAM -  out of over 6,000 arrested for alcohol related crimes in 2020, about 120 were on SCRAM - 46% White, 18% Black, 29% Hispanic  (historical data) - SCRAM used more often in wealthier areas of Cook County
Three circumstances where SCRAM is used in the courts (judges trying to fix the problem)
    1.  condition of probation
    2.  in bond court as a condition of release
    3.  plea deal to avoid the charge of DUI being on the defendant’s record

Points made by justice groups and some commissioners:
  • cost of the device is charged to the offender—may be prohibitive expense for some—county should pay 
  • concern with how the contract for this device is awarded and that these companies make a profit
  • may restrict offenders in their jobs, and may need to travel in county to have device checked
  • if offender can’t pay the company seeks payment through a collection agency
  • ”unfair” to the poor, minorities
This item 22-4709 (resolution to have a hearing on SCRAM devices) passed unanimously out of committee to go on to entire Board.

Cook County Board - Pension Committee
September 21, 2022


A steady depletion of assets in Retirement Funds for CC and FPD despite a great investment year (2021)
  • Both the Cook County government and the Forest Preserve District had good returns on investment (17.15% for Cook County) last year—mostly private equity and private real estate 
  • Cook County has been paying in more than required each year since 2016
  • However, there will be an eventual depletion of assets because the program cannot generate enough investment income to keep paying the growing numbers of retirees (small gap now)
  • for the FPD, assets will be depleted by 2044 and this will become “pay as you go” system unless changes are made to laws (large gap now)
  • in the County, there are more retirees getting benefits than employees paying into the system
  • Currently there is $14.2 billion in the Cook County pension fund and $240 million in the Forest Preserve Fund
  • Pension Board and its employees have been working in-person since August, 2021 interfacing with the public and well as phone counseling.
  • Commissioner Kevin Morrison concerned that transgender sex transformation operations are excluded from retiree benefits.  This will be addressed at the next Pension Board meeting in October.
  • Some commissioners concerned about minority investment contracts (currently 39%)
This item 19-1313 (yearly report on Retirement assets and situation) was deferred to that it can be kept open for the future.

Observer:  Karin Hribar
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Individual authors are credited at the end of each post.

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    August 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015

    Categories

    All
    Assessor
    Ballot Referendum
    Board Of Review
    CCHHS
    Chief Judge
    Contracts
    Cook County Board
    Cook County Budget
    Cook County Health (CCH)
    Cook County Sheriff
    County Clerk
    Covid 19
    Criminal Justice
    Departmental Budget Hearings
    Economic Development
    Election Administration
    Environmental Control
    Ethics Ordinance
    Gun Violence
    Healthcare
    Independent Inspector General
    Paid Sick Leave
    Pensions
    Performance Based Management
    Police Matters
    Public Defender
    Recorder Of Deeds
    Shakman
    Soda Tax
    State's Attorney Office
    Taxes
    Tax Incentives
    Technology
    Transportation Plan

    RSS Feed

LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF COOK COUNTY
332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 634
Chicago, IL 60604

312/939-5935 x 127
info@lwvcookcounty.org
Terms and Conditions of Use
© Copyright League of Women Voters of Cook County, Illinois. All rights reserved.
Membership Information
CONTACT US
  • Home
  • About
    • LWVCC Interest Groups >
      • Cook County & MWRD Group
      • Criminal Justice
      • Cook County Health
      • Forest Preserve Interest Group
    • LWVCC Positions
    • LWVCC Action and Testimony
    • LWVCC Activities
    • Archived Newsletters
  • Observer Reports
    • Cook County Board Observer Reports
    • MWRD Board Observer Reports
    • CCH Board Observer Reports
    • Forest Preserve Board Observer Reports
  • Voter Info
  • Cook County Gov. Contacts
    • Cook County Board
    • Forest Preserve Board
    • Cook County Elected Officials
    • MWRD Board
    • Cook County Health Board