In 2015, Cook County became a partner site of the MacArthur
Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge, which aims to reduce unnecessary
incarceration and racial disparities in U.S. jails. Cook County stakeholders, community groups,
and technical advisors meet regularly to plan and implement innovative strategies to safely reduce the population in the Cook County Jail and reduce racial and
ethnic disparities within that population. This process will result in an
application to the MacArthur Foundation in June 2017 for up to $1 million in
additional program funding per year.
The Cook County Safety and Justice Challenge is led by representatives
from the
Office of the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County; the Justice
Advisory Council (on behalf of the Cook County Board President); the Cook
County Sheriff’s Office; the Cook County State’s Attorney; the Cook County
Public Defender; the Chicago Police Department; the Clerk of the Circuit Court;
the Cook County Health and Hospitals System; and community based providers and
advocates in Cook County. Community
representatives have been drawn from the National Alliance on Mental Illness
(NAMI), Safer Foundation, Chicago Survivors, Alumni Association, Lawndale
Christian Legal Network, The Night Ministry, North Lawndale Employment Network,
Apostolic Church of God, and Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities
(TASC).
Additional details about the MacArthur Foundation Safety and
Justice Challenge can be found on the MacArthur Foundation’s website here.
News
Daily Herald -- MacArthur Foundation awards
Cook County grant to reduce jail population
Chicago Sun-Times -- Cook County receives
MacArthur Foundation grant to reduce use of jails
Chicago Tribune -- MacArthur grants aimed at
reducing inmates in Chicago, other U.S. jails
Upcoming Events
Press
For media inquiries, please contact:
Pat Milhizer, Director of Communications
Office of the Chief Judge
Circuit Court of Cook County
50 W. Washington Street, Suite 2600 Chicago, IL 60602
(312) 603-5160
Feedback/Questions
If you have any feedback on the Safety and Justice Challenge
or other questions, please contact us at sj.challenge@cookcountyil.gov