At the Cook County Board of Commissioners annual organizational meeting January 3, 2023, Debra White was sworn in as the newest member of the County Board. Commissioner White is a resident of Hovland and has been a resident of District 1 for decades. Her work history makes it clear that she has had a focus on public service, especially in... READ MORE >
The people of Cook County elect the County Attorney to act as the chief prosecutor for crimes occurring in Cook County and the City of Grand Marais and to advise the county board and staff upon all matters in which the county is or may be interested. When most people consider what the Cook County Attorney is responsible for (if... READ MORE >
Thirty-three percent of Minnesota women and twenty-five percent of Minnesota men experience intimate partner physical violence (IPV), intimate partner rape and/or intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes. Along with physical and sexual violence, people often experience emotional abuse, financial abuse and live in an environment of control where they are isolated from friends and relatives. One in five homicide victims... READ MORE >
Domestic violence is a pervasive problem that every community faces. Across multiple county departments including the Sheriff ’s Office, the County Attorney’s Office, and Public Health and Human Services, we work to respond to and prevent domestic violence. October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, so this is an appropriate time to discuss this important topic and the individual and... READ MORE >
On March 31, Cook County’s Equity in Justice Initiative published its Cook County Criminal Justice Survey, an inaugural effort at collecting anonymous opinions about justice from people of all backgrounds who have interacted with the local criminal justice system. Eighty people responded to the survey during its two-week circulation. This article is meant to provide a summary description of survey... READ MORE >
In a small community where budgets can be tight and there aren’t law offices on every corner (thank goodness, right?), it can be difficult for people to access the legal help they need. One service that Cook County provides is the Law Library, which can help citizens become their own advocates by connecting them to free legal resources. The Cook... READ MORE >
Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending. Maria Robinson The Equity in Justice Initiative (EJI) is an advisory group created in 2020 with a mission to discover, acknowledge and build awareness about what inequities exist in our justice system and to create equity in Cook County for all.... READ MORE >
In 2020, local governments had to pivot and respond to a public health emergency that developed quickly and had widespread impact. On the heels of the rush to control a global pandemic, we have also been called upon to take action against racial inequity. Racial inequity is its own public health crisis, leading to disparities in health, education and justice.... READ MORE >
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, nor does it contain a full description of all allowed or prohibited activities. For the full text of all executive orders, visit the governor’s website at mn.gov/governor/news. Since Minnesota Governor Tim Walz declared a Peacetime Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic on March 13, the emergency related... READ MORE >
Beginning at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, March 27, all those living in Minnesota are ordered by the governor to “stay at home.” The Executive Order signed March 25 is justified by Governor Walz’s emergency powers under the COVID-19 state of emergency and is consistent with federal guidelines limiting gatherings of more than ten people. “Limiting activities to only those which... READ MORE >
