(WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans says he won’t point fingers over and problems with the bail system when it comes to violence on the streets.
In a speech at the Union League Club Thursday, Evans laid out the steps needed to detain suspects accused of violent crimes until trial.
They must be evaluated and found to be a clear and present danger, he said. A petition from the state’s attorney’s office may be needed, Evans noted.
Later, he told reporters, these steps may be needed even if the suspect has previous arrests for violent offenses — or if they are a juvenile.
“It’s not the charge that decides who is released, based upon the pretrial,” he said. “It is the due process that includes the evidence. And I hope before they conclude that the judge did something wrong they can take a look and see whether there is evidence to show that the person did what the person is accused of doing.”
Mayor Lightfoot and Police Supt. David Brown have said there are too many defendants allowed the opportunity to commit more crimes while they await trial. In particular, they fault the court system for placing too many violent offenders on electronic monitoring, rather than behind bars.
Evans on Thursday said no one accused of murder or attempted murder has been placed on electronic monitoring since October 2021. He said he would like to see offenders undergo intensive therapy to recognize the consequences of their actions.
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