Nearly 1 in 12 criminal defendants released pre-trial on ankle monitors in Chicago have gone AWOL, and authorities have no idea where they are, even as some in the program allegedly go on to commit violent crimes.
Data from the Circuit Clerk of Cook County shows that 246 out of 3,048 defendants released pre-trial and placed on ankle monitoring are missing and aren’t actively wearing their ankle monitor. Several individuals released pre-trial have gone on to allegedly commit violent crimes, like Alphanso Talley, who’s accused of murdering Chicago Police Department Officer John Bartholomew.
Hundreds of defendants on pre-trial release through the ankle monitor program accused of violent crimes:
- 13 individuals charged with attempted murder
- 103 individuals charged with sexual assault
- 21 individuals charged with murder
- 173 individuals charged with aggravated battery
I am sponsoring legislation (House Bill 5757) which proposes a mandatory revocation of pre-trial release if offenders commit a new felony while out on electronic monitoring.