Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender

The Cook County Public Defender Office (CCPD) is one of the largest criminal defense firms in the country, representing Cook County residents charged with felony and misdemeanor crimes, and child abuse as well as providing legal representation to anyone held in custody by law enforcement. This award supports a collaborative partnership between the CCPD and the Center for Criminal Justice Research, Policy, and Practice at Loyola University Chicago (the Center) to build CCPD’s internal capacity for data driven performance management, evidence-based decision making, and ongoing research and evaluation. With the Center's assistance, the project leverages data from CCPD’s electronic case management system to help the office better understand its work and impact, provide more effective legal representation, and contribute to broader systems reform efforts.