HOMER GLEN, IL – State Representative Patrick Sheehan issued the following statement after a new report revealed that 244 individuals on electronic monitoring in Cook County are currently considered AWOL, including many facing serious felony charges.
“As a police officer, these numbers are deeply alarming. We’re talking about hundreds of individuals with pending criminal cases who are supposed to be monitored, yet many are now unaccounted for. Families across Illinois deserve to know that public safety systems are working, and right now, confidence in this system is shaken.
“This conversation became painfully real after the tragic murder of Chicago Police Officer John Bartholomew. Bartholomew’s killer, a parole absconder, was reportedly on electronic monitoring after prosecutors had sought detention. That tragedy should have been a wake-up call for everyone involved. We cannot let these tragic and horrific headlines continue to pile up until something changes. We need change NOW.
“Transparency is important, and I appreciate that these numbers are finally being made public. But transparency alone is not enough. We need accountability, stronger safeguards, and a serious review of how electronic monitoring is being managed and enforced in Cook County.
“Public safety cannot come second to politics. The people of Illinois deserve policies that protect victims, support law enforcement, and prioritize safe communities.”
Rep. Sheehan proudly serves the people of the 37th District.
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