The federal judge’s order didn’t go as far as some civil rights advocates had hoped. The ongoing work of pushing for structural change to the criminal justice system must continue.
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Injustice Watch has been tracking the number of cases and the population inside the Cook County Jail.
Data shows people are still being booked into the jail, even as 17 detainees and four correctional officers have tested positive so far for the virus that causes COVID-19.
The order comes over a week after Walter Ogrod began showing symptoms associated with coronavirus.
In an open letter to Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans, reform advocates are demanding the release of as many detainees as possible in order to mitigate risks related to the new coronavirus.
A Pennsylvania inmate whom the Philadelphia prosecutor has concluded is “likely innocent” has symptoms of coronavirus as he remains incarcerated, awaiting a hearing that was postponed amid precautions related to the outbreak.
The court will suspend all non-essential matters for 30 days starting Tuesday, the chief judge told presiding judges in a three-hour meeting on Friday.
Advocates for incarcerated people are calling on Illinois correctional officials to protect the state’s older prison population from COVID-19 disease.
As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Illinois hit 25 on Wednesday, officials throughout the state’s justice system are moving to respond to the new threat.