City West Journal

Cook County officials have introduced the Cook County Criminal Justice Dashboard, a new tool designed to enhance transparency and accessibility of data related to the local criminal justice system. The dashboard compiles information from various agencies within Cook County, offering insights into incidents, arrests, criminal case filings, jail bookings and releases, pretrial release decisions, sentences, and prison details.

“The Cook County Criminal Justice Dashboard reflects the ongoing collaboration among our justice system partners,” stated Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle. She emphasized the commitment to transparency and improving public understanding of how the justice system impacts communities across Cook County.

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 allows users to interact with data filtered by year, offense types, and demographic factors. This project results from coordinated efforts across independently elected offices committed to equitable access to information.

Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans remarked on the importance of transparency and interagency collaboration in informing the public about the justice system. Similarly, State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke highlighted that while courtroom roles may differ, there is unity in strengthening trust in the justice system.

Clerk Mariyana Spyropoulos noted that fostering relationships of trust is crucial in today's political climate. Public Defender Sharone R. Mitchell Jr. expressed hope that this tool would promote discussions and critical analysis of policy impacts post-arrest.

County leaders collaborated with Loyola University to demonstrate dashboard features to media members as part of an effort to ensure local stakeholders can utilize this consolidated information effectively.

David Olson and Don Stemen from Loyola University expressed their hopes that centralized data will help users explore questions about how the system functions.

The dashboard is accessible at https://cook-dashboard.loyolaccj.org with quarterly updates planned for its data representation.