Analysis: Disproportionate share of defendants in Cook County are Black

The number of people charged in criminal cases has declined steadily in Cook County over the last two decades. But a closer look at the trend reveals stark racial disparities that have only grown over time. More than 3 million criminal cases were filed in Cook County between 2000 and 2018. More than 60% of those were filed against Black people, according to an analysis of Cook County court data by The Circuit, even though Black people only make up about a quarter of the county’s population.

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