The Illinois Supreme Court announced recently the formation of a Pretrial Accountability Task Force, aimed at addressing the increasing number of pretrial defendants on electronic monitoring and improving the state’s arrest warrant system.
Currently, more than 5,500 pretrial defendants are being monitored electronically across Illinois, a figure that has continued to rise. The newly formed Task Force will examine the use of electronic monitoring during pretrial release, reviewing the types of cases and charges where monitoring is ordered, as well as policies for enforcing violations.
The Task Force is also charged with evaluating the processes, practices, and policies surrounding warrants issued in the pretrial phase of criminal cases. This includes an assessment of the number of active pretrial warrants statewide and the mechanisms in place to ensure their timely enforcement.
Members appointed to the Task Force include Cook County Circuit Court Chief Judge Charles S. Beach, 7th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Ryan M. Cadigan, 20th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Andrew Gleeson, Illinois State Police Director Brendan F. Kelly, 12th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Daniel Kennedy, Loyola University Chicago Center for Criminal Justice Professor David Olson, Counselor to the Chief Justice Dartesia Pitts, Director of the Office of Statewide Pretrial Services Cara LeFevour Smith, and 16th Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Robert K. Villa, who will serve as Chair.
Additional members will include a judge from each represented judicial circuit who hears criminal cases, a Circuit Court Clerk from each circuit, and a Sheriff from each circuit, in addition to consultations with local law enforcement agencies.
The Task Force recently held its inaugural meeting and is expected to issue a comprehensive report with its findings and recommendations to the Illinois Supreme Court within 45 days.