Cook County Public Defender’s Office

Blanket policies that require prosecutors to seek detention based on charge alone undermine the law by removing individualization and discretion—essential elements of fairness and good decision-making. Defaulting to more detention in more cases makes our communities less safe.

The Pretrial Fairness Act is designed to protect the constitutional rights of all accused people by ensuring everyone receives a robust, individualized hearing before their liberty can be taken away. chicagoreader.com/news/reader-in…

Legal representation makes a significant difference in case outcomes for immigrant clients. Thanks to the @verainstitute for conducting this independent evaluation. Read the full report here: vera.org/publications/t…

We are proud to be part of the Midwest Immigrant Defenders Alliance (MIDA), a collaborative deportation defense program in partnership with @NIJC, The Immigration Project, @TRPistas, @eriehouse, @MICAprojectSTL, and @ChildrenLglCntr.

@TRPistas @verainstitute @TheImmProj And thanks to @Borderless_Mag for covering our work! Read the full story here: borderlessmag.org/2026/04/24/coo…

For the immigrants we represent, the stakes could not be higher. legal representation can determine whether someone in detention is deported or reunited with their loved ones and community. Thanks to our partners @TRPistas, @verainstitute, @theimmproj, and NIJC.

Our immigration division is on track to become the largest provider of legal services to detained individuals in the region.

The Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender stands in solidarity with San Francisco Chief Public Defender Mano Raju Following Contempt Charge

Thanks to our talented team of expert Defenders who helped craft the office’s position and public comment!

Today, we testified at a Public Hearing of the Illinois Supreme Court Rules Committee to convey our office’s support for a proposed amendment to Rule 307. The amendment will allow immediate appeals of decisions to transfer children from juvenile court to adult criminal court.

This change will help more children access juvenile justice resources. Our office represents almost every child the State petitions to prosecute in adult criminal court. We see the impact these transfer decisions have on child clients and their opportunities for rehabilitation.

Statement from Cook County Public Defender Sharone R. Mitchell Jr. on the appointment of Emmanuel Andre as Chicago’s Deputy Mayor for Public Safety.

Thanks to bill sponsors @senatorellman and @NormaHndezIL and partners @the_wji, DuPage County Public Defender's Office, @JHAofIllinois, and the @asjpolicy.

Our office is working with partners to ensure that people completing programming in jail receive sentencing credit as the legislature intended. news.wttw.com/2026/03/25/som…

Deputy Public Defender for Policy Sharlyn Grace has been testifying in Springfield to help shepherd this bill out of committee and towards passage.

"One of the fundamental injustices of the U.S. criminal legal system is that who ends up in court has more to do with how much money they have in their pocket than almost anything else." For Gideon Day, Sharone Mitchell, Jr. / @CookCoDefender inquest.org/public-defense…

Our policy team has developed and passed bills to benefit our clients, defeated bills that would have enhanced and expanded criminal penalties, and helped create Illinois' first statewide investment in public defense infrastructure.

Read about our policy advocacy in Springfield in this @_inquest_ piece by Cook County Public Defender, Sharone R. Mitchell, Jr.! Full article available here: inquest.org/public-defense…

"The poor people who end up being our clients don’t usually have lobbyists fighting for their interests, so we have stepped up." Sharone Mitchell, Jr., of @CookCoDefender on imagining a powerful new role for public defenders—for Gideon Day 2026. inquest.org/public-defense…

📢Please help us share Keshia’s story. Each of us should be able to protect ourselves from harm and abuse without fear of prosecution. Read the full story at: wbez.org/crime/2026/02/…