West Cook News

Today, Cook County officials introduced the Cook County Criminal Justice Dashboard, a new tool designed to enhance transparency and understanding of the local criminal justice system. The dashboard consolidates data from various agencies within Cook County.

"The Cook County Criminal Justice Dashboard reflects the ongoing collaboration among our justice system partners," stated Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President. "It shows our shared commitment to transparency and to making the criminal legal system work better for the public."

Funded by the MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge and developed with Loyola University of Chicago's Center for Criminal Justice Research, the dashboard provides information on incidents, arrests, case filings, jail bookings and releases, pretrial decisions, sentences, and prison data. Users can interact with this data by filtering it based on year, offense types, and demographics.

The project represents coordinated efforts across independently elected offices committed to equitable access to information. Data is sourced from several offices including the Office of the Chief Judge and the Cook County State’s Attorney.

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans remarked on its importance: “The Cook County Criminal Justice Dashboard is a continuation of this commitment.”

Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke commented on collaboration: “Together, we are making meaningful strides to ensure that the people of Cook County not only experience justice but can trust the system that delivers it.”

Clerk Mariyana Spyropoulos emphasized trust: “Giving residents a look into our work is important to foster relationships of trust and honesty.”

Public Defender Sharone R. Mitchell Jr. added: "I hope we can promote discussions and inspire critical analysis that provides a more holistic view of how our courts operate."

County leaders demonstrated features of the dashboard alongside Loyola University representatives to increase awareness among media members.

David Olson from Loyola University said: “Our hope is that engaging with a variety of data helps those looking to understand how the system functions.” Don Stemen also highlighted its utility in exploring questions about justice operations.

The public can access this resource at https://cook-dashboard.loyolaccj.org with quarterly updates planned.