Case Study J. W.

Charge: Violation of Probation, Retail Theft of a Budweiser

Days in Jail: 190

Cost to taxpayers: $27,170

    • 26 arrests – 13 bookings into the Cook County Jail
    • 34-year-old J.W.’s 13 bookings in the jail total 349 days spent in custody at a collective housing cost over $45,000 – in 2014 alone, he was arrested 8 times and was booked in 5 times.
    • In August 2014, J.W. was sentenced to 2 years’ Probation for a Retail Theft that occurred at a Jewel Osco. He attempted to steal a can of Budweiser but was stopped and detained by store security until CPD arrived. He spent 21 days in custody on this case before he was released with onto probation.
    • He failed to appear in court on November 21st, and a warrant was issued for his arrest for a Violation of Probation.
    • On December 3rd, the warrant was returned after J.W. was arrested at a homeless shelter where he was staying. He became loud and disruptive and was repeatedly asked to calm down and eventually asked to leave by shelter staff. When he did not comply, 911 was called. He was booked into the jail the next day and bond was set at $3,000 on the new case, but the original Retail Theft case was changed to No Bond since he violated probation. Thus he was not able to bond out, even if he had the money. The Criminal Trespass case was quickly resolved, but the Retail Theft and Violation of Probation continue to hold him in custody.
    • J.W. spent 102 days in Cook County Jail custody on this string of cases. He was released back onto probation March 16, 2015.
    • All of his arrests in the past 10 year have been for similar “Crimes of Survival” – Retail Theft and Criminal Trespass to Land. In many cases, he is released with Time Considered Served.
    • He again failed to appear in court on May 5, 2015. This triggered a Violation of Probation and a warrant was issued. The warrant was returned when J.W. was stopped for drinking in public on May 16. He was in custody 67 days before being released back onto probation, Nine days later, he failed to appear in court again and a warrant was issued for his arrest. That warrant was is still active.
    • In total, between the original retail theft and the 2 retail thefts, J.W. has spent 190 days in custody on this case totaling $27,170 in incarceration costs.
  • All of his arrests in the past 10 year have been for similar “Crimes of Survival” – Retail Theft and Criminal Trespass to Land. In many cases, he is released with Time Considered Served.