PROSECUTORIAL DISCRETION
In Cook County, all drug cases are directly filed by police officers without any oversight or review of the charges by the State's Attorney's office.
If you are elected, will you end the practice of allowing the police to directly file charges, and require all charges to be reviewed by a prosecutor before filing?
CONWAY: |
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| We have a mass incarceration problem where those with substance abuse or mental health issues are often locked up for nonviolent offenses, then stay in jail because they can't afford to bond out. There are multiple steps in the process where CCSAO can act and make improvements, but one of them is making sure that drug charges don't advance unnecessarily. I support CCSAO involvement in the filing of drug charges, particularly since CCSAO may have access to substance abuse professionals with additional insight and training relative to CPD officers alone. We need to start diverting people to treatment either before charges are filed or as early as possible; hopefully at bond court. |
FIORETTI: |
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| The police need authority to charge defendants in the field when they believe obvious crimes have been committed. If they file charges incorrectly, there are remedies to make it right. |
FOXX: |
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| We have worked relentlessly to right the wrongs of the failed War on Drugs. Our work is not to base our success in measuring convictions, but that we believed in doing what’s right and fighting for the best, most fair outcomes, whatever form that takes, based upon the facts, evidence, and the law. We work to providing equity and justice in all levels of our prosecution. |
MORE:
DID NOT RESPOND
O'BRIEN:
DID NOT RESPOND
PFANNKUCHE:
DID NOT RESPOND
