Faith Leaders Urge Independent Review of Cook County Jail After Rising Deaths in Custody

Faith leaders from multiple religious traditions, writing in a commentary published by the Chicago Sun-Times, say they are united in the conviction that every human life has inherent worth and dignity, including people who are incarcerated and awaiting trial. Their piece calls for an independent review of Cook County Jail in response to deaths and conditions inside the facility.

The writers cite a recent study finding that 85 people died in the jail between 2019 and 2025. In that period, the jail reported 13,192 extraordinary or unusual incidents and failed six of the nine Illinois Department of Corrections inspections. They also write that in 2023, 18 people, predominantly Black men, died in custody, the highest mortality rate at the jail in at least three decades. An investigation by Injustice Watch, as described by the writers, identified serious lapses in medical care and supervision preceding at least half of those deaths.

The writers say these figures represent individual lives, grieving families and a community left to deal with losses that cannot be undone. They argue that when the government takes custody of a person, it takes on a serious responsibility for that person’s safety and well-being, a duty to defend people who cannot fully protect themselves (Psalm 82:3). Incarceration, they write, restricts freedom but does not diminish humanity or relieve officials of the obligation to preserve life.

In September, the writers say, more than 70 faith leaders signed a letter calling on the Cook County Board’s Health and Hospitals Committee to advance a resolution supporting an independent review of the jail. The resolution was introduced by Cook County Commissioner Tara Stamps and her co-sponsors and focuses on health, safety, wellness and conditions of confinement. Members of the coalition presented the request to the committee on Sept. 22, and national jail experts also spoke about the importance of independent scrutiny, a practice used in other major jurisdictions and previously at Cook County Jail.

The writers state that the committee went into executive session after discussing legal concerns, and consideration of the resolution was deferred. Reports indicated that concerns about potential liability contributed to difficulty in securing enough votes for passage. The writers acknowledge that public officials must weigh legal and financial consequences, but they argue those concerns should not overshadow the obligation to protect human life, and they say the public deserves a clear explanation of how delay serves people in custody and the wider community.

According to the piece, Cook County has already spent millions of dollars settling lawsuits involving deaths and harm experienced by people in its custody. The writers contend that an independent review could identify institutional failures, reduce preventable harm and potentially limit future financial and legal consequences. They note that other cities, including Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York, have established forms of independent jail oversight.

The writers say an independent examination of medical care, staffing, supervision, safety practices and institutional procedures could give commissioners and the public credible information for evidence-based improvements. They state that such a review is not inherently an attack on the sheriff’s office or its personnel, and they describe accountability as necessary to responsible leadership and public trust. The writers also note that their traditions differ but share common ground, citing Jewish, Quranic, Buddhist and Christian teachings on preserving life, compassion and care for the incarcerated.

The writers call on the Health and Hospitals Committee to advance the resolution to the full County Board.

Source: Read the original report