Most in Cook County Jail Don’t Need to be There

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle

Cook County jail currently holds 8,500 inmates, each costing taxpayers $144 per day,” said Toni Preckwinkle, yesterday at a breakfast meeting held by Interfaith Housing Development Corporation.

Preckwinkle, who is celebrating her first year anniversary as Cook County, went on to say”Most are there for drugs or the things people do to support an addiction such as shoplifting or prostitution.

They are not flight risks, but most have illicit substances in their system when they are arrested.

“We are trying to solve our society’s addiction problems by detaining people. We have a 52% recidivism rate. It’s not working.”