Cook County Jail population falls under 6,000

Posted December 22, 2017 11:00 AM

Cook County Jail’s population has dropped below 6,000 inmates, which is the lowest level in decades, according to the Chicago Tribune. Cara Smith, chief policy officer for Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, attributed the decrease largely to a September order by Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans that requires judges to set affordable bail amounts for defendants charged with nonviolent felonies.

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