Cook County Board - Criminal Justice Committee and Pension Committee

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