By: Matt Rosenberg
Last weekend’s violence suggests it’s going to be another long, hot and crime-filled summer in Chicago. This comes one-third into a year that Mayor Lori Lightfoot has rightly called make-or-break in tamping down violent crime and deteriorating public safety.
To begin regaining control of Chicagoland’s crime problem, judges and prosecutors in Cook County Circuit Court should stop letting dangerous suspects – ones with prior felony convictions and who can be deemed high risk – go free on bond yet again after newer charges.
Yet Cook County judges remain bent on releasing repeat offenders with prior felony convictions who are then alleged to have violated bond terms. And prosecutors go along with it. Time and again.
Out on bond: charged for murder, attempted murder and more
The backdrop matters. The city is on the edge again, and it is only April. “Wilding” teens and young adults again swarmed streets around Millenium Park last weekend and 21 were arrested. One of the arrestees was a juvenile now facing a felony weapons charge. In Boystown, out of control crowds climbed on cars and video shows one celebrant smashed a windshield with his foot. Also over the weekend, 8 were murdered and 42 shot. It’s a portrait of Chicago poised to lose control of its streets for the third summer in a row.
Through the end of the year’s 17th week on Sunday April 24th, Chicago Police Compstat data show that overall major crimes in Chicago were up 35 percent citywide versus last year to date, and up 11 percent against 2019.
Catch-and-release of clearly high-risk suspects remains one part of what’s gone wrong.
As the crime site CWBChicago reported Sunday, there were 50 murders or attempted murders of civilians or police allegedly committed in 2020 by suspects already out on bond. In 2021 such cases totaled 71. There’ve been 23 so far in 2022 as the year’s first trimester draws to a close.
The numbers suggest that judges should intervene more robustly and control risk management by holding without bail more highly dangerous suspects. Consider these recent charges.
Charged with first-degree murder and 26 other felonies in March was a 21-year-old man with three prior felony convictions who was out on $500 bond for a pending felony weapons charge. Using a baseball bat he allegedly went on a 13-victim armed robbery spree in December and killed a father hanging Christmas lights. He allegedly told police he committed the robberies because he needed money for Christmas presents for his children.
A man with seven prior felony retail theft convictions was out on bond for another felony retail theft charge. He was on electronic monitoring. Then he was charged again for a new felony retail theft of $3,780 worth of goods from Saks Fifth Avenue on Chicago’s North Michigan Avenue. He was released on no-cash bond and put back on electronic monitoring.
Another man was out on high-cash bond on two counts of attempted murder for a shooting of an in-uniform off-duty Cook County Sheriff’s Deputy. He was on electronic monitoring with a “no movement order.” But nonetheless prosecutors alleged that in April he committed new felony offenses of carjacking and armed robbery.
A man out on bond in a felony gun case, with two prior felony weapons convictions, earned new charges on five counts of attempted murder, in April after directing a hail of shots at another vehicle.
One more suspect out on bond for a felony weapons charge, was arrested for attempted first-degree murder and additional weapons charges in a domestic dispute. He had three prior convictions, prosecutors said.
An 18-year-old out on bond for attempted murder was one of several suspects arrested and charged for trying to steal ATM machines. He had been released on $10,000 bail for the earlier charge. His new bail is set high, at 10 percent of $500,000, or $50,000.
A man out on bond for a pending Class X armed habitual felon charge was arrested again, for possession of a stolen motor vehicle. But Cook County prosecutors didn’t notify the bond court judge of his pending felony case and filed no notice he’d violated terms of his bail bond in the earlier case. If and when he posts 10 percent of his $10,000 bond he’ll be released on electronic monitoring.
Another man out of bond for a pending Class X felony weapons case, and with two prior felony weapons convictions, was charged again after firing at two hospital guards.
The good news is that four of the above six suspects have finally been held without bail. But too late, really, considering their records and new charges.
Repeat offenders were also held without bail here, here, here, here, and here. Good. But again, looking at each case history: it was far too late in the game.
State law allows for discretion and the holding of felony suspects without bail if they are found to pose a “real and present threat to any person or the community.” But that power will be sharply limited in a controversial criminal justice reform bill lawmakers approved last year. More judicial discretion – a lot earlier – would go a long way. As would have a clean-up of the legislation in the session recently concluded.
Without corrective action, this whole summer in Chicago and each one to follow may look a lot like last weekend.
Matt Rosenberg is senior editor of Wirepoints.
Read more from Wirepoints:
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If you’re frustrated with Illinois’ educational results, you may want to follow the money from teachers unions. In the last four years alone, Illinois lawmakers and political candidates have taken nearly $30 million in contributions from teachers unions and their national affiliates.
Wirepoints President Ted Dabrowski testified on April 10, 2024 to members of the House Revenue and Finance Committee at the invitation of Rep. Joe Sosnowski. Ted told lawmakers that the state’s property tax burden has become dire for countless Illinoisans.
Ted joined WLS 890’s PM Chicago Show to discuss Chicago’s worsening pension crisis, why the city’s crisis makes it such an outlier nationally, its negative impact on residents, government workers and retirees alike, and what Mayor Brandon Johnson should do about it.
When has any company persisted with a project in the face of stronger local, statewide and national opposition? When have taxpayers subsidized a more harebrained project?
If prisons are overcrowded in Cook County, build more prisons.
That this column has to be written is extraordinary. 5 years ago who would’ve dream it could come apart this quickly? The lesson for all of us is that we get the government we vote for and the sad fact is that most of our fellow citizens voted for this.
Chicago is now a complete no-zone for me and my family. I spoke with my daughter this morning about my upcoming visit in June. She said that she no longer wants us to take my grandsons to the museums. “It’s too dangerous,” she said.
She is correct.
The idiot mayor and her lapdog “press-tocricy” will continue lie.
We continue our no-buy.
All comments are spot on and sadly true. This die was cast when we vilified the police under BHO with Ferguson. From that point the media started to paint the national picture as police being the enemy. Law and Order are the best we all can hope for. No one says that operates perfectly all the time but holding criminals accountable is what has to be done. Jails need to be filled not emptied. Chicago is so broken its pathetic. Who occupies these jail cells are topics to tackle another time because it points to broken cultural issues as a… Read more »
I blame all of this on Soros-backed Kim Foxx. However, Chief Judge Timothy Evans is also complicit in being lenient on violent criminals. I don’t understand why all these violent repeat offenders aren’t locked up until trial?
Well. let me guess. all the judges are democrats? This era of progressive policies must end, and soon. If it doesnt stop, even the judges who let them out are likely, given the odds, of being victimized themselves.
I have an idea how to stop the crime,the state should offer link cards to everyone in Chicago,oh wait,they already do that,oops
It’s unbelievable how quickly this city has devolved into this chaos. Not only here, but across the nation. The left has been cooking this soup for a long time, and, now we sit and see what is truly on their menu. Unfortunately, the choices we’ll have in Chicago in upcoming elections will offer no hope. Voter suppression?? That’s been the norm here for decades. The “ pro crime” bill that will take effect next year will spread this madness to every corner of the state. Look what happened on the first warm day this year, and imagine what this summer… Read more »
There are many to hold accountable for this for sure and it must be corrected IF Chicago is going to remain a destination as a world class city. People have to feel safe and that means enforcing the law and not allowing offenders to walk. This is a serious issue that will result in more murder and felonious activity.
World Class City means something different to the progressive than to the normal person. Chicago has become a progressive paradise. World Class.
Is more crime the goal? Because this policy approach is how you get more crime. Failure by policy and the odds of policymakers being replaced in a significant way are low.
Crime is a byproduct of equity. Crime isn’t the goal but it’s a known outcome. The result of the crime is anarcho-tyranny. There’s anarchy in the street which terrorizes residents while the weak and extremely unpopular regime engages in propaganda and tyranny (you can’t eat out unless you’re vaccinated! etc). Lori defeated Toni in a landslide election and Toni herself, aged 74, is extremely unpopular and not well liked among the population. Yet only progressives further to the left of Toni are challenging her in the primary. There’s never been a more unpopular ruling class in Cook County, they are… Read more »
A lot of great comments here,but for all the people in Chicago that always vote for democrats,Y’ALL have a fun summer,im gonna stay out her in Lake County where its primarily clean,green,safe and relatively quiet,hell,I accidentally left my keys in my car the other night and guess what,nobody stole it!-try doing that in Chicago,good chance your car will get stolen even without the keys
Thanks for the information, Matt. Good article. I’d like like to believe, in my heart of hearts, that progressives are good people who truly do want to make the world a better place. But apparently they’ve left their brains somewhere else because there is Zero evidence that their policies have improved anything, and Extensive evidence, like your references, that these policies are making things much, much worse. Watching the demise of a once great city is a sad thing to do.
I came across my long departed mother’s diary from 1933 recently, and was struck by the profound differences in city living from then to now. For my mother, and perhaps thousands of other Depression Era people in Chicago, following the conclusion of the work day, they would change their clothes and go downtown to window shop, take in a movie, enjoy an ice cream sundae at Kranz’s — a famous State Street emporium — wander through the Loop late night and often return well past midnight on the streetcar. Long ago and a different time. What have we lost in… Read more »
Richard, that picture you paint of your Mom’s Chicago is poignant. I managed to enjoy a piece of old Chicago at Lou Mitchell’s one morning last week with visiting correspondent from Le Monde, in town to do a six-part series on the the city’s plight and predicament. And some predicament it is. You nail it on the slow creep of the Wild West vibe to the city’s North Side. I’d add that Chicago and North Shore progressives always managed to write off predatory behavior as a byproduct of “systematic racism,” until it came into their communities. Then it became a… Read more »
How in hell can anyone who shoots a deputy be free on any kind of bond, “high-cash” or otherwise? What an obscenity. On a semi-related note, one crime statistic always leaps out at me: Nearly 40 people shot this past weekend, and only six fatalities. Clearly, the majority of these bangers belong to The Gang That Couldn’t Shoot Straight.
Good catch. Many of them are so young they can barely hoist their semi-automatic weapons. Gosh, any chance all of this devolves to parenting?
The trauma centers are good at what they do. They significantly improve the murder stats.
Rich Lindberg – what a great post.
Also – give credit to the CFD ambulance crews, and ER docs.
Unfortunately, I think for this summer the cat’s already out of the bag, so to speak. And how this could play out could be on the ugly side. Realize that under the normal election cycle you can’t get any of the big 4 (Lightfoot, Evans, Foxx, Preckwinkle) out until 2023 at the earliest. So…there could (probably will?) be some cataclysmic act of violence–and with the crowds expected this first non-Covid summer in four, that prospect scares the hell out of me. Something horrible enough that the media dopes cannot ignore, because a story’s a story’s a story. They’ll beat on… Read more »
Jay, I’ve been thinking the same thing. There’s unfortunately going to be some horrific crimes that will get national attention, but sadly I do not believe it will make any difference at all. The powers that be who are hell bent on destruction will just wait for any furor to blow over. As Matt has chronicled, there is an entire system that needs to be dismantled to make things better, and the smallest steps to start to fix things are not being taken. The city needs a group of pro law and order minority leaders to effect change, and I… Read more »
Be careful what you wish for….Toni’s primary challengers are coming from the left….both are proud progressives who believe Toni hasn’t been progressive enough (but they were against the soda tax! so they claim!)
I don’t think there is even a Republican running for County Board President.
There is always hope for better policies. But scant hope because it’s China Town, er, Chicago. Thanks for writing and recording the facts Matt.
It’s anarcho-tyranny. Criminals roam the street and keep the population scared. What you gonna do about it? Vote Kim Foxx out of office? She’s got three years left… You really going to vote for Toni Preckwinkle’s primary challenger in June? Her challenger Richard R. Boykin is the former county board commissioner from Oak Park, and seems even more progressive than Toni. How about Zerlina A. Smith-Members of Chicago? She’s even further to the left of Toni!!!!And the Libertarian Thea Tsatsos of River Forest?? Her website is so vague we have no idea what she even about! There’s no change coming… Read more »
In my opinion, it is too late for Chicago. This is the end of a long run of people voting in Liberal judges, mayors, and council people for many years. It’s gonna take a huge and brave step for the voters to crush any liberal in office and start over. In my opinion, this is highly unlikely to happen in Chicago until it becomes Detroit.😥😥😥My heart breaks for my former home.
Those responsible for the mayhem and slaughter are the democrats. The Illinois Senate and House dominated by the “D” party, a governor who signed the ridiculous legislation that released violent criminals over and over again and a Cook County states attorney who simply refuses to prosecute criminals in the name of “restorative justice”. Then we have the Chief Judge, Evans, who demands judges under his domain follow the no bail, light sentences, catch and release policies that Foxx, Preckwinkle and Lightfoot have dreamed up. They, democrats, are responsible. How many kicks to the head do the voters in Cook County/Chicago… Read more »
“How many kicks to the head do the voters in Cook County/Chicago have to get before they realize how bad democratic rule is and has been?”
LOL, progressive policies are always the cause of, and solution to, all of Democrat’s problems!
Clearly, the revisionist racial justice policy is endangering citizens across the city, not just those from poor areas. With no repercussions for criminal behavior, violence and destruction, the floodgates have burst open. The approved justice reform bill will just fuel the inferno of crime already cast upon the citizens of this once great city.
The hopes of tourism coming back to Chicago, along with the new tourism slogan for Illinois, “Middle of everything” will be a sad joke, when tourists realize they are in the middle of a crimewave.
I know several who at one time would take in a play then dinner and walk the sights of a architectural beautiful city, but no more. Lightfoot lost the city since the riots. She never gained them back, either, nor will she. This city isn’t beautiful no more, because of the uncontrollable violence that goes on daily with no truth to real reports on how bad. I’ve lived in the city all my 72 years and soon no vomits will restrain me from leaving the city or state. It’s become strictly political in regards to the safety of its citizens… Read more »
Count us among the “several you know”. We don’t even go out to dinner anymore later than 6 pm – and I’m not talking the Loop; I’m talking River North, Gold Coast, Old Town & Lakeview. Forget a play… That far south after dark? Forget it. As for during the day, I don’t even think about that nice walk down to the Mag Mile or State Street – & just for fun, at that! We drive one another to where we must go, then pick each other up when we’re done. No waiting in the car either, if it’s a… Read more »
“We feel like captives in our own home, & more & more we’re asking ourselves where are all those reasons why we choose to live in the city?”
Like the old drunk who is sick and tired of being sick and tired, but refuses to put down the Marlboro Light and cheap boxed wine, the Chicago Democrat whines and complains about City Life but checks that Democrat box every election, because, Republicans are racist or something. Woe is me! the Chicago Democrat laments as she is carjacked by one of Biden’s superpredators.
Excellent column. When there are no consequences for doing wrong how does it become a place for accountability? This insanity lies solely at the feet of those who allow it, and perpetuate it. And one has to wonder and ask what the heck? If one allows their three year old to eat ice cream for breakfast it will be expected that ice cream will be there. Last week Lori Lightfoot was questioned about her run for re-election. The reporter questioned her record and pointed out her many failures. Her response was “ I disagree with you fundamentally and I don’t… Read more »
Thank you. That foot to the windshield spoke volumes. I’ll bet *that* perp doesn’t have many or even any priors. But what he did is just a “starter” crime. He’ll soon be on his way, I fear. And that’s where “broken windows” theory and practice come in. Enforce the “small” stuff or it soon flowers into much more.
Thanks for tracking and documenting this “status quo” Chicago now lives with, Mr. Rosenberg. It’s thoroughly disgusting but we need to know the facts. Bravo.
Thank you. The legislature also has some work to do on this. Their “reforms” taking effect next year will all but tie the hands of judges and prosecutors to hold clearly risky subjects without bail before trial.
So you need your own billionaire to fund you like Dan Proft has Uhline. With public financing of campaigns, term limits, reduction of the layers of government, their pay and perks, and very strict ethics rules, could we have a more participatory government that would look after the state with more of a fiduciary responsibility and not a mafia extortion racket?
It’s the classic pendulum swing and bandwagon thinking of weak, dishonest, selfish politicians, a corrupt media, and a lazy, disinterInterested electorate. Who in their right mind would vote for these policies? Who, besides maybe their friends and relatives, wants habitual violent criminals on the street? Who wants the brutal, punishing system of taxation of working people that we have in Illinois? Who wants the royalty class of politicians and government workers who know how corrupt things are, but enable them anyway so they do t lose their cushy jobs, insurance, and pensions that we, the chumbolones pay for? We have… Read more »
You answered your own question about who would vote for these policies. It is the friends and relatives of generations of criminals.
F-ing savages,dare i say what color most of these people are that are acting like animals?-Just another of the many reasons why i NEVER go to the city,wont spend a single penny in Chicago
The surrender of the criminal justice system in Cook County – and the ascendance of Cook County Values in Springfield – begs for systemic correction. Nonetheless, I do go into Chicago. I just keep my wits about me. And there are whole swaths of the city where danger is low. The Indian district on West Devon is one such place my wife and I enjoyed recently. Also, I think it’s important to note that the vast majority of *all* Chicagoans are law-abiding, and most of them are as horrified as you at proliferating crime that’s treated too lightly or not… Read more »
Sadly no neighborhood is safe. Places like North Center, Portage Park, Jefferson Park, Edgebrook all on the Northside and considered to be quiet, desirable neighborhoods to live in now are frequently experiencing the car jackings, street robberies, assaults, gang shoplifting etc. The crooks know where to go where good, easy pickings can be found. The sheep are not vigilant about the wolves hunting them.
With that horrified vast majority, it amazes me how we get no change, election after reelection after reelection. That’s an even more horrifying situation. It’s great that you still get into the perceived safer havens of Chicago. But living here & trying to go about your daily business here is a different story. For the last 40 years we’ve lived in a what has traditionally been considered a “safe” neighborhood. Over the last several years we’ve seen crime on our own block – in our own driveway! – where there had been none before. It makes you realize that, in… Read more »
LOL, you get a lot of change, just not the change you’re looking for. We’ve seen Cook County go from Chicago Democrat to full blown progressive! Heck of a change in such a short period of time, and from the progressive’s perspective, the change has been too little and its taking too long! Challengers to the incumbents are all progressives coming from the left who believe we need even MORE progressive change! But vote Republican in Nov? Hahahahaha they’ll never do that…
Matt – I agree with you. A few years back, I read – and it may be inaccurate – the City has an estimated gang population of 100,000. If this is accurate, it explains con part why Foxx’s policies have grabbed a foothold. Gang members have relatives, friends and so on and they make look at gang members far differently than the average upstanding citizen.