Report: Defense Attorneys Laud Shift to ‘Fairness and Accountability’ Under Kim Foxx

When she ran for Cook County state’s attorney in 2016, Kim Foxx campaigned on a reform platform that promised a move from tough-on-crime to “smart-on-crime” policies. According to a new report, dozens of defense attorneys who deal with Foxx’s office say that shift has been largely apparent during her tenure.

In a new report titled “Creating a Culture of Fairness and Accountability,” more than two dozen veteran defense attorneys said they’ve seen an uptick in the use of probation and diversion programs that keep offenders out of prison. At the same time, Foxx’s office relies less on cash bond and has been more willing to dismiss low-level charges.

“Overall our interviews revealed that State’s Attorney Foxx has made substantial progress in increasing discretion and reforming the policies of her predecessors that had led to so much incarceration,” the report states.

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