Mid-Year Budget Meetings of the Finance Committee

Cook County Board of Commissioners Finance Committee
Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Morning Session

Office of the Public Defender - Sharone R. Mitchell Jr.

• The current workload crisis is due to State’s Attorney ramping up charging and detention,  Massive expansion in problem-solving courts, especially the Restorative Justice Community courts, has also contributed to the crisis.  The situation prompts a request for additional paralegals and support staff for pre-trial work and HR personnel.
• The Law Office is acting on 63 vacancies and anticipates having fewer than 50 remaining vacancies by October. Retention bonuses have lowered the attrition rate, but candidate attraction remains difficult in part due to the time required for training. RFPs are under review to conduct a workload study as input to a plan for increasing staff.
• Currently have 2 interpreters supporting a legal staff of 110.  Working with HR to raise the position Grade to be more competitive. 
• Immigration due process with legal representation remains a challenge with > 200 people facing deportation as of June 2025.  Mr. Mitchell Jr. recognized leadership from Comm. Anaya and the President’s Office that started building immigration capacity in 2020.  
• Rental and leasing Actual is under budget due to delayed identification of suitable office space. The goal is to have a lease in Maywood signed by the end of the fiscal year.

Clerk of the Circuit Court - Mariyana T Spyropoulas (elected in 2024)

• Changes made to date include a new internal control audit system and online App.  In response to a question from Comm. Lowry, enhancements include a customer service survey on the Website with input going directly to the IG’s Office. Signage on process is displayed at all locations, and training for operations and customer service has been implemented. 
• Additional personnel and training are needed, especially for translation.  The website and App now include information in 100 languages. 
• In response to a question from Comm. Anaya, online case search content is limited, e.g. order of protection case information is available only at court houses (not online since 2004). Changes must go through the Office of Chief Judge.
• Grant opportunities have largely been opportunistic, but now grant writers who actively search for grants are being utilized.  

Cook County State’s Attorney - Eileen O’Neill Burke

• Major policy change is mandatory detention and jail time for assault weapons with a ‘switch’ that converts the firing system to automatic. 
• Seeking funding to expand the Choice to Change program which was piloted in North  Lawndale and Little Village this year.  The program supports high school juveniles convicted of a felony as an alternative to detention and includes cognitive behavioral therapy.  Partnering with U Chicago to measure endpoints.
• A Curriculum Director has been hired and all personnel are being trained.
• Need additional manpower including 150 Assistant State’s Attorneys (ASA) in 2026;  attrition rate continues at 8-11%.  Improved case management system is also needed.
• Forensic Capability Unit currently has 1 employee.  Review and selection of relevant video and cell phone evidence requires 1+ data scientists. 
• In response to a question from Comm. Gaynor,  revoked FOID cards need follow up to have owners turn their guns in or face revocation of their driver’s license.
• Orders of protection (criminal only, not civil) need contact with the victims ASAP to provide services and discuss filing for charges. The murder rate in domestic violence cases is increasing, with 7 in 2024 and 18 in the first half of 2025.  In 2024 50% of alleged abusers were detained. In the first half of 2025, 80% of alleged abusers have been detained.
• In response to a question from Comm. Degnen, there is currently 1 ASA per court room but 3 per room are needed.  More civil ASAs are needed to secure assets.  Plan is to fill current vacancies  Reducing reliance on outside attorneys will build internal expertise.  
• In response to a question from Comm. Britton,  becoming more proactive with Civil lawsuits requires increasing personnel in the Tax Division. Cybercrime is increasing, especially for seniors, and the Office currently has 1 ASA assigned to these investigations.  
• In response to a question from Comm. Anaya, the budget overrun for personnel is due to the need to triage across multiple jurisdictions and the Federal government. Training for new expertise will be implemented to build capabilities until 2026 hiring is complete.  Requesting 1 additional domestic violence expert to share case load with 2 current ASAs.

​Observer: Susan Gregory