Over 14,000 low-level misdemeanor warrants have been recalled since the start of this initiative.
Managing old warrants aged anywhere from 5 to 25 years contributes to significant backlogs in the legal system. This report highlights Cook County’s strategic efforts to address a backlog of over 17,000 low-level, non-violent misdemeanor warrants without requiring the litigants’ presence. Funded by the MacArthur Foundation’s Safety and Justice Challenge, this initiative aims to reduce the negative impacts of old warrants on individuals and relieve administrative burdens on the court system. The county has successfully recalled thousands of warrants through collaboration among the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the State’s Attorney’s Office, and the judiciary. This process has minimized obstacles for individuals facing warrants by lowering barriers to employment, reducing stigma, and improving public safety by allowing law enforcement to focus on more serious offenses.
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Key Findings:
- Most warrants resulted from defendants failing to appear in court for their respective low-level aged cases.
- Warrants were among the highest arrest offenses among minorities in Chicago.