The key crime statistics for the last weekend of July included 74 shootings, 12 fatalities, zero arrests (so far), and lots of excuses. What does the spike mean for criminal defendants in Cook County and elsewhere?
In a press conference, Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson essentially blamed community members for not coming forward with information to police. “You all know who these individuals are,” an exasperated Johnson claimed. Other officials blamed “gangs” and gun owners for the carnage. But almost everyone agrees that unless Chicago police can somehow improve communications with the community, leads in violent crime cases will be few and far between.
There was more bad news, as well. Based on an analysis, Chicago police only solved about 17% of the city’s murders in 2017. In other major cities, the figure is much higher. Washington D.C. has a closing rate above 75%. Chicago’s 17% figure only considers the number of cases wherein officers identify a suspect. In terms of arrest and conviction rates, the proportion may be closer to 5%, according to a University of Chicago study.
City officials refused to provide current data, declined comment in the matter, and instructed the media to file a Freedom of Information Act request.
Community Relations and Cook County Jury Pools
The poor relationship between law enforcement and civilians directly affects the way these cases proceed through criminal court.
Many of us were raised in the 1900s. Back then, police officers got free pancakes at Denny’s and spoke to adoring kids on Career Day. Those days have been fading away for quite some time. The process started in the mid 1990s with the Rodney King police brutality trial in Los Angeles, the ensuing race riots, and then-Police Chief Daryl Gates’ controversial decision to abandon the epicenter of the riots at the corner or Florence and Normandie.
Recent police shootings and social media campaigns accelerated this process. Now, for the most part, that connection between police in some communities is gone.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Cook County prosecutors could count on a jury box full of people who gave officers the benefit of the doubt and saw defendants as “bad guys.” Therefore, these lawyers approached cases accordingly. Generous plea deals were hardly ever available, unless there was a serious issue with the evidence or some other irregularity.
Today, that is no longer the case. Many jurors view police officers with skepticism or even hostility. Furthermore, they often view defendants as individuals who made extremely poor choices as opposed to the “bad guys.” This shift has changed the was Illinois defendants’ cases are handled in the Chicagoland area.
First, many jurors are more receptive to affirmative defenses at trial. Second, prosecutors know that trials can be much riskier, even if the evidence is solid. So, they are more willing to make favorable deals that avoid these risks. That could mean a reduced charge or a much more lenient sentence.
Work With Assertive Attorneys
The changing jury pool has altered the way cases proceed through the system. For a confidential consultation with an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Schaumburg, contact Glasgow & Olsson.
(image courtesy of Spenser H)