Press Releases

Circuit Court Proceedings - 3/14/20   In light of rapid developments regarding the coronavirus (COVID-19), the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) has been working closely with the Circuit Court and all of our criminal justice system partners. Our top priority is protecting the health, safety, and rights of everyone who interacts with our court system.   The CCSAO will remain open and work will continue; however, in accordance with the Chief Judge’s announcement below and in consultation and agreement with the Cook County Public Defender, effective Tuesday, March 17, 2020 we will be...
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Amidst the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx today announced that the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) will not prosecute cases of non-violent, low-level narcotics offenses at this time and will continue to review and prioritize other charges on a case-by-case basis to make appropriate determinations in light of the public health crisis and reduced court operations and staffing. The CCSAO’s exercise of prosecutorial discretion is aimed at protecting the health and safety of police officers, first responders, medical professionals, and jail staff and...
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Data show domestic violence increases during times of financial stress and hardship, and the uncertainty of COVID-19 and people confined to unsafe environments may contribute to a higher likelihood of abuse. In light of these data points and other factors, Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx and the City of Chicago are reminding people that even during reduced court operations, emergency domestic violence and child endangerment proceedings will continue.  While non-essential criminal court, juvenile court, and child protection proceedings are suspended for 30 days, bond, preliminary,...
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Following a guilty verdict of first-degree murder in the case of Chicago Police Commander Paul Bauer, Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx released this statement:  “We welcome today’s guilty verdict and the justice it brings to the family of Commander Paul Bauer, the Chicago Police Department, and the citizens of Chicago. This senseless murder ended the life of an honorable man and highly regarded public servant. Commander Bauer’s dedication to serving and protecting the community was evident on February 13, 2018, as he performed his final duties as a Chicago Police Officer. This...
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“It is with great sadness that I join others to mourn the loss of a giant, Justice Charles Freeman. When I was elected to serve as State’s Attorney, Justice Freeman called to offer congratulations and some perspective. He graciously reminded me of the importance of being a ‘first,’ and to never forget the responsibility to clear a path for those who come next. I will always remember his words, his integrity, and his many contributions to our justice system and history. May Justice Freeman rest in power and the trail he blazed endure for generations.”
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Following oral arguments in Cook County v. Wolf where the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office argued the merits of the injunction to block the Trump Administration’s discriminatory public charge rule, State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx released the following statement:   “When the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office filed suit to block the public charge rule, we knew it would be an uphill battle.  The Trump Administration continues to bypass ordinary legal processes and take extraordinary steps to block people from accessing public benefits like food, housing, and health care.   “The Cook...
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Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announced today that the office moved to vacate the wrongful convictions for an additional 12 individuals as part of the office’s ongoing review of the misconduct of corrupt former Chicago Police Sergeant Ronald Watts. Since SA Foxx took office in December 2016, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) has moved to vacate a total of 94 cases involving former Sergeant Watts.   The CCSAO’s Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU), tasked with investigating and addressing claims of wrongful convictions, is reviewing these cases after a pattern of misconduct...
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  “We are pleased with today’s ruling, as the deliberate actions of Officer Houser demanded justice and accountability. While this incident occurred within weeks of this administration taking office, after a careful review, we took swift action to ensure that the appropriate charges were filed for this crime. “The circumstances of this case were unique, but the way we handled it was not. As always, we relied upon the facts, the evidence, and the law and hope that this resolution brings some measure of comfort to the victim’s family and helps restore integrity to our criminal justice system.”
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Today, Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx filed motions to vacate more than 1,000 low-level cannabis convictions. The State’s Attorney’s Office is providing this relief for Cook County residents in advance of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act taking effect on January 1, 2020. The new law makes cannabis legal in Illinois and requires the expungement of minor marijuana offenses. The convictions vacated today were for non-violent Possession of Cannabis cases under 30g. Today’s filings, initiated by Foxx, make it as though these convictions never happened. They will now be expunged and...
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Today, Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx announced data demonstrating that the Gun Crimes Strategies Unit (GCSU) – her office’s initiative of taking prosecutors out of the courtroom and putting them directly into police districts struggling with high rates of gun violence – is producing significant results. Prosecutors in GCSU districts work collaboratively with local and federal law enforcement to share intelligence and target the drivers of violent crime. Data compiled by the University of Chicago Crime Lab show a decrease in violence and a significant increase in enhanced gun...
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“I’m proud to salute Superintendent Eddie Johnson for his commitment to the brave women and men of the Chicago Police Department and the City of Chicago. As a life-long Chicagoan, who like me grew up in Cabrini Green, to have the opportunity to give back to the city you love through public service is an honor and privilege. This work calls for tremendous sacrifice, and I am grateful for Superintendent Johnson’s collaborative partnership and mutual respect as we worked to increase public safety and end the cycle of violence in our communities. I want to thank Superintendent Johnson for serving...
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Today, Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx and the University of Chicago Crime Lab hosted a discussion on the state of low-level drug offenses in Cook County and the prosecutor’s role in addressing addiction.  Dan Satterberg, the Chief Prosecutor of King County in Washington, shared his experience of connecting more people to mental health and addiction treatment in lieu of incarceration.  Bolstering these social services paved the way for a policy shift in his office, which no longer prosecutes most non-violent cases of possession of small amounts of illegal controlled substances. ...
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Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx introduced the office’s first support dog to assist children and mentally disabled victims of sexual assault and violence during a special swearing-in ceremony today at the Leighton Criminal Courts Building.   Hatty, a two-year-old Labrador Retriever, is a specially trained support dog who will serve as a therapeutic resource to specifically assist young children or mentally disabled victims of sexual trauma.  Hatty’s primary role is to provide direct support to these individuals when testifying in court or during interviews with prosecutors and...
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