ALT A graphic that reads, "Separating Fact from Fiction: Pretrial Electronic Monitoring." Then it includes a false claim from the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, published on 9/8/2026. "Another obvious problem is the requirement in current law that those on home confinement be given at least two days out in public, unmonitored." The Truth is below this quote, "People on electronic monitoring are monitored 24/7 by GPS tracking. That includes any time spent at home, work or completing essential movement, like getting groceries or seeing the doctor."

ALT Graphic that reads, “Separating Fact from Fiction: Pretrial Electronic Monitoring." It says “The Truth” in bold and has the following fact, “People on pretrial electronic monitoring have not been found guilty of the charges against them. Allowing people to attend to their basic human needs while accused of an offense should not be a radical idea in a developed society.”

ALT Graphic that reads, "Separating Fact from Fiction: Pretrial Electronic Monitoring." Then a false claim from the Chicago Tribune Editorial Board, published on 9/8/2026, “Under state law as it stands, those on electronic monitoring get a minimum of two “free roam” days — typically two eight-hour periods over the course of a week — during which they can go where they please with the monitors turned off." The Truth is below this quote, “The law requires anyone ordered to pretrial home confinement be given movement over no fewer than two days each week to participate in basic activities such as: • Working and seeking employment; • Obtaining medical care; • Attending school and religious services; and • Purchasing groceries or other necessities. The Pretrial Fairness Act does not allow anyone movement for no reason at all, nor does it set the times for movement. All essential movement is set by a judge and can often be 2 hours or 4 hours at a time. GPS tracking is not turned off ever.

ALT Orange graphic with a white outline of the State of Illinois that reads, “The FAIR Act takes effect today, July 1, 2026.” Below that heading, it reads, “The Funded Advocacy & Independent Representation Act creates the Office of the State Public Defender, the first significant state investment in trial-level public defense in Illinois. Today, the law goes into effect and the first step of appointing an 11-member commission begins.” A pop out section in contrast colors reads, “This law is the first step in ensuring that all Illinois residents have access to a well-funded, independent public defender who can protect their rights.”

ALT Blue-green graphic, with a hand holding a megaphone in the bottom left corner. In the middle of the graphic is a piece of notebook paper that reads, “Procedural protections for children sentenced as adults through EJJ passes” in large text. In smaller text it reads, “Thank you to sponsors Representative Dave Vella and Senators Laura Fine and Robert Peters. Learn more.” and two arrows pointing to the right.

ALT Blue-green graphic that reads, “HB5020: Procedural protections for children sentenced as adults through EJJ. Extended Jurisdiction Juvenile (EJJ) sentencing allows prosecutors to request both juvenile and adult sentences for kids in juvenile court. Under current law, the adult sentence is not immediately imposed, but its imposition is mandatory if the young person is accused of any new offense and may be imposed even for simple technical violations of the juvenile sentence. This EJJ sentence is often longer than it would have been for the same offense in adult court. This bill brings EJJ into the 21st Century and makes the law what most people already thought it was by: • Requiring prosecutors to prove by clear and convincing evidence that an adult sentence may be appropriate. • Incorporating youth-centered neurological, developmental, and environmental factors when determining whether to impose EJJ. With two additional bullet points.

ALT Teal graphic with a hand holding a megaphone in the corner. A sheet of paper in the middle of the graphic reads, "Our bill to clarify access to sentence credits for jail programming passes" in very large letters. Under that in smaller text it reads, "Thank you to sponsors Senator Laura Ellman and Representatives Norma Hernandez, Justin Slaughter, Anne Stava, & Diane Blair-Sherlock. Learn more."

ALT Teal graphic with text that reads, "SB3333: Clarify Access to Sentence Credits for Jail Programming. SB3333 will ensure that people in county jails receive sentencing credit for the programs they are completing. Participation in meaningful programming for people in jails benefits their futures and helps to achieve public safety goals. This bill will: Standardize the interpretation of the current law across the state to ensure that people in jail awaiting trial receive sentencing credit for completion of eligible programs. Make the law’s implementation more consistent across the state by ensuring that people participating in parenting programs and work assignments receive sentencing credit, as current statutes intended. Remove overly detailed language about program length that caused confusion, led to arbitrary credit denials, and increased administrative burden on county jails."

ALT Graphic with bold text at the top that reads, "Additional Reporting" next to the logo of the Cook County Public Defender. Under that is a headline from Block Club Chicago that reads, "State's Top DUI Cop Still on Medical Leave Months After Being Accused of 'Fabricating Evidence'." Then there is a pop out quote from Assistant Public Defender Rae Sansonetti that reads, "Once reports start to unravel or start raising red flags, it becomes, how do we know that these are DUIs? All we had to go on was his word. And if we can't trust what you are saying, then it's nothing."

ALT Graphic with orange background and megaphone in the corner, large text that reads, "Equal Representation for Public Defender Clients in SSS Hearings Passes" and smaller text that reads, "Thank you to Sponsors Representative Rick Ryan and Senator Robert Martwick" and arrows that show to move to next slide to learn more.

ALT Orange graphic that reads, "HB4217: Equal Representation for Public Defender Clients in Statutory Summary Suspension Hearings. This bill promotes fairness and equity for accused people by allowing public defender’s offices to choose to represent clients in statutory summary suspension (SSS) hearings related to traffic cases in which they are already appointed counsel. SSS hearings are civil proceedings that occur within the criminal case and determine whether someone will lose access to their driver’s license. HB4217 will improve access to justice by: - Authorizing Public Defender’s Offices, when appointed to represent a client in a traffic case, to extend that representation to the client’s SSS hearing when appropriate. - Creating an opt-in system with attorney discretion that promotes fairness, consistency, and court efficiency.

ALT Illustration of a judge reading an order to a person who has been cut out of the picture, but their outline remains. A headline from "Injustice Watch" that reads, "ICE deported them. Cook County prosecutors still want them arrested for missing court." and then a quote from Assistant Public Defender, Nick Moroni that reads, "I was surprised. At the end of the day, this was a person who, based on the evidence that the state provided to the court, was only unable to come to court because the government prevented him from coming."

ALT Graphic with a sheet of notebook paper in the center that reads, "The Protecting Innocent Families Act Passes" and "Thank you to Sponsors Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford & Representative Mary Beth Canty." In the bottom left corner is hand holding a megaphone and the bottom right prompts you to lean more by viewing the next image.

ALT Navy background with text that reads, "HB3169: The Protecting Innocent Families Act. This bill enhances transparency and procedural safeguards in Illinois Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) investigations. By reinforcing due process and accountability, the bill responds to longstanding concerns about disproportionate impact on vulnerable families, including families of color and families whose children have complex medical conditions. Key provisions include: - Professional transparency in medical evaluations - DCFS disclosure of forensic consultation - Right to an independent second opinion For more information about this legislation and supporting partner organizations visit famjustice.org/protecting-innocent-families-act

ALT A graphic with a photo showing a woman being interviewed by a newscaster with a camera set up and cameraman on the left side of the image. Title text that reads, “The Top Cop: Public defenders say ISP trooper copied, pasted findings in arrest reports over years” and then a quote from Assistant Public Defender Andrew Segal that reads, “As his DUI totals went up, year after year after year, so did his salary. [Troopers] make overtime pay for just showing up at court. So even if they show up at court, they testify and the case is garbage and they lose, the trooper still gets paid.” At the bottom of the graphic is a link to read the full story at cookcountypublicdefender.org/links.

ALT Graphic with art of a young boy being held by his mother, they are both turned away. At the top is a headline from the Chicago Reader, "Cook County state’s attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke’s complicated relationship with the Pretrial Fairness Act" and then a quote from Sharlyn Grace Deputy Public Defender of Policy that says, "Almost everyone who is criminally charged in Cook County will come back to Cook County in the future and most people will come back relatively quickly. So then the question is, are they coming back in a position where they're better able to succeed? Or are they coming back in a position where they have more disadvantages, more handicaps, more trauma, less time working, less access to mental health care?"

ALT Orange and navy graphic that reads, "Did you know? The right to a government-funded attorney does not apply to people facing deportation. But our office is a partner in the Midwest Immigrant Defenders Alliance (MIDA), which provides no-cost legal representation in immigration cases. The results of the MIDA pilot show the significant difference that representation makes in case outcomes and access to due process."

ALT Orange and navy graphic that reads, "Findings from 'The Impact of Legal Representation on Detained Immigrants Facing Deportation: Evidence from the MIDA Program.' Finding 1: Being represented by a MIDA attorney increase immigrant clients' likelihood of being granted relief by 366%. Finding 2: Access to the MIDA program resulted in case outcomes that allowed 22% more people to stay in the U.S."

ALT Orange and navy graphic that reads, "Findings from 'The Impact of Legal Representation on Detained Immigrants Facing Deportation: Evidence from the MIDA Program.' Finding 3: Being represented by a MIDA attorney increased someone's likelihood of being released on bond by 46%. Find more results and details in the full report at cookcountypublicdefender.org/links."

ALT Headline from Borderless Magazine that reads "Cook County Public Defenders built an immigration unit five years ago. The last year tested it," above a picture of an attorney in a suit.

ALT Graphic reads: Statement from Cook County Public Defender Sharone R. Mitchell Jr. on the Appointment of Emmanuel Andre as Deputy Mayor for Public Safety for the City of Chicago. I’d like to congratulate Emmanuel Andre on his appointment as Deputy Mayor for Public Safety for the City of Chicago. During his four years with the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender, Emmanuel brought thoughtful leadership and a deep commitment to our mission to protect the rights and dignity of our clients. Among a host of accomplishments, Emmanuel was instrumental in the launch of our community-based Freedom Defense Centers in Austin and Roseland. He led a deliberate and intentional process to establish community trust, support, and input—ensuring the centers reflect the needs and priorities of the people they serve. We fully support his transition and look forward to continuing to work with him as an advocate for justice and safety for all Chicagoans.