On the day she was sworn into office, State’s Attorney Burke cited Chicago’s stubborn gun violence as the main obstacle holding our community back from truly thriving. “We have war zone numbers of people wounded by gunfire. We are witnessing mass shootings on a regular basis and we are becoming numb to the numbers of lives shattered. I refuse to become numb,” she said on December 2, 2024.
With a pivotal transition in leadership, the CCSAO has a unique and urgently needed opportunity to strengthen its approach to gun crime reduction, prosecution policies, and victim/witness support. The safety and well-being of our communities depends on a criminal justice system that is effective and fair. Gun violence continues to be a critical challenge, and addressing it requires a strategic approach that prioritizes prevention.
The CCSAO is committed to taking a multifaceted, data-driven approach to gun violence reduction that integrates policy reform, strategic partnerships, and community engagement. Strengthening communication with victims and collaborating with law enforcement agencies and community-based organizations enhances the CCSAO’s ability to more effectively address gun violence at both the prevention and prosecution levels. By leveraging data to assess the impact of our policies, we can continuously refine strategies to ensure sustainable reductions in gun violence while maintaining public trust.
Getting Dangerous Weapons and the People Who Use them off the Street
On her first day in office, Burke implemented a series of bold policy changes and structural reforms aimed at reshaping the office and focusing on violent crimes that destroy lives, devastate communities, and shatter the perception of security across the Chicagoland area. Burke issued a new detention policy related to the proliferation of machine gun conversion devices (also known as switches), ghost guns, drums, and extended magazines. In February, Burke announced that this policy would be mirrored for offenders convicted of using or possessing these weapons: prosecutors are now seeking prison time in every one of these cases. She also instructed prosecutors to seek detention for offenders charged with felony crimes on public transit who have abused the shared services that many Cook County residents rely on.
Restoring Balance
We are prioritizing the victims and witnesses of violent crime who deserve justice. While this office will always take seriously its obligation to ensure a defendant’s rights are protected, we also must work to re-establish trust with the victims and witnesses of crime who are often traumatized, and who are essential for successful prosecutions. In order to deliver a more victim-centric approach, the CCSAO is working to establish clear protocols to ensure victims are updated on critical case developments and to create written informational materials explaining the criminal case process from referral to sentencing. New training protocols are also being developed so ASAs and SAO staff can more effectively communicate with victims and witnesses, and that appropriate referrals can be made for community-based supports to survivors and their family members.
Likewise, SA Burke is committed to improving communication and partnerships with local law enforcement while ensuring mutual accountability.
Felony Review Bypass
One area that is already bearing fruit is the Felony Review Bypass pilot program, launched in January, in close consultation with the Chicago Police Department. The pilot streamlines the charging process for lower-level felony gun cases, easing a significant strain on police and prosecutor resources across Chicago. The pilot was initially launched in January in the CPD’s 007th District (Englewood) and expanded in April to the CPD’s 005th Police District (Calumet), and enables responding police officers, in consultation with their supervisors, to file certain low-level nonviolent felony gun possession charges directly instead of waiting for CCSAO felony review approval, which can sometimes take hours. Senior CCSAO policy and felony review unit personnel conducted extensive trainings at the impacted districts, and thus far, every single bypass case has withstood legal scrutiny via either a preliminary hearing or grand jury indictment. Future expansion is being planned.
Meaningful Diversion for Nonviolent Offenders
Not every gun offender belongs in jail, or deserves to have a criminal record. The CCSAO is committed to appropriate diversion opportunities for nonviolent gun offenses that bring those eligible into compliance with current statutes and regulations. In fact, in May, the state legislature passed a bill championed by SA Burke that modifies the First-Time Weapon Offender Act to ensure first-time, non-violent felony gun possession offenders who successfully complete a diversion program can receive a FOID card upon completion – thus eliminating a lag and roadblock for otherwise law-abiding citizens to come into compliance with the law.