Skip to contents

Cook County Jail

Cook County Jail
Cook County Jail

Teens At Cook County Juvenile Jail Face Excessive Force, Extreme Isolation And Other Civil Rights Abuses, Watchdog Finds

Interviews, site visits, and records reviewed by a legal advocacy group reveal abusive behavior by staff against mostly Black teenagers with learning disabilities, according to a new report. Jail officials deny the claims.

Citywide

Cook County Jail Detainees Are Voting, But Getting Informed On The Candidates Can Be Tough

Turnout at the jail was better than citywide turnout for the June 2022 primary — but a lack of internet access has been a challenge for those wanting to know more about the candidates.

Austin, Garfield Park, North Lawndale

Monkeypox Case Reported In Cook County Jail Detainee

Representatives from the city's health department will go to the jail to provide education, testing and vaccinations for eligible people.

Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards

As Cash Bond Is Abolished, Advocates Are Tackling Housing Insecurity To Help People Stay Out Of Jail

Lawndale Christian Legal Center and the Bail Project are helping people awaiting trial with addiction treatment, mental health help and workforce training. Now, they're adding housing to the mix.

Austin, Garfield Park, North Lawndale

‘Free Our Moms Day’ Vigil Will Support Mothers Detained At Cook County Jail

Organizers said there are 195 moms detained at Cook County Jail and 1,325 moms incarcerated throughout the Illinois Department of Corrections.

Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards

COVID-19 Outbreak At Cook County Jail Is Biggest Yet As Incarcerated Population Swells To Pre-Pandemic Levels

Over 850 detainees and jail staffers are currently infected with coronavirus after a sharp increase in cases driven by the Omicron variant.

Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards

Coronavirus Cases Rising In Cook County Jail Despite Widespread Vaccines And Testing: ‘It’s Devastating’

The jail is seeing the most infected people since last winter, before the vaccines were readily available, with 109 detained people positive for COVID-19.

Austin, Garfield Park, North Lawndale

Chance The Rapper And Common Push For Parole In Illinois: It ‘Will Begin To Correct The Harms Of Long-Term Incarceration’

The rappers urged state lawmakers to pass a bill to make people eligible for parole after they’ve served at least 20 years in prison. 

Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards

Cook County Jail Begins Demolishing Vacant Dormitories To Make Way For Recreational Space

Officials say they will not use explosives for the teardown, and neighbors can access air quality information during the work.

Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards

Cook County Jail Detainees, Officers Now Receiving Coronavirus Vaccinations

Thousands of correctional officers and hundreds of inmates have now been vaccinated. Advocates pushed for detained people to receive shots sooner because of the risks they face.

Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards

West Side Legal Group Launching Campaign To Inform Prisoners About Vaccines

"We know the more information individuals have ahead of time ... the more apt they are to make an informed choice about their health care," said Tanya Woods, executive director of the Westside Justice Center.

Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards

Illinois Votes To Stop Jailing People Who Can’t Afford Bail: ‘This Is Not A Just Or Equitable System’

The state Legislature approved the Pretrial Fairness Act, which will end money bond statewide, and other sweeping criminal justice reforms Wednesday.

Austin, Garfield Park, North Lawndale

Cook County Set To Demolish 2 Buildings At Jail Campus In Little Village This Spring

Air quality monitoring data will be available to neighbors during the demolition work.

Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards

People In Jails, Prisons Will Be Vaccinated In Next Phase, State Confirms After Advocates’ Push

Dozens of groups demanded the state act more quickly to protect prisoners and detainees, who now are in line to be vaccinated in the second round of immunizations. The policy change is "a major victory," an advocate said.

Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards

Officials ‘Did Nothing’ To Prevent Latest Coronavirus Outbreak In Jail, Guards And Advocates Say

Officers and supporters of inmates are furious with the way Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart has handled the pandemic in the jail.

Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards

8th Detainee Dies From Coronavirus As Cook County Jail Population Swells Again

Cook County Jail was home to one of the largest coronavirus clusters in the nation this spring. Now, cases are growing again, from a few dozen at the beginning of the month to 190 as of Tuesday.

Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards

Injustice Watch Mailed Its Judicial Election Guide To 1,000 Detainees At Cook County Jail. They Never Received Them.

Officials, in error, flagged the guides as contraband and sent them back.

Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards

People Detained At Cook County Jail To Keep Getting Protections Amid Pandemic, Appeals Court Rules

The ruling follows a previous court order that required the sheriff to improve conditions inside the jail.

Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards

Cook County Jail Officers Demand Hazard Pay For Working For Months In Coronavirus Hot Spot

More than 1,000 Cook County Sheriff's Office employees and jail detainees have tested positive for coronavirus. Though most have recovered, seven detainees and four sheriff's office employees died.

Pilsen, Little Village, Back of the Yards

Cook County Board Resolves To Redirect Dollars Away From Jails And Policing, Calling It A ‘Failed System’

By approving the Justice for Black Lives resolution, Cook County will work to steer its multibillion-dollar policing budget toward health care, restorative justice and jobs instead in the coming years.

Downtown
1 of 2