CHICAGO — Poor people in police custody now will have access to free attorneys, thanks to a new order issued by Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans on Tuesday.
Currently, the majority of people arrested in Chicago do not have legal representation until they appear in bond court after being charged with a crime. In 2015, 89 percent of Cook County defendants relied on the public defender's office for legal counsel.
Under the new order taking effect immediately, those who are in police custody and cannot afford a lawyer will have access to free legal aid from public defenders and private attorneys.
“I want to ensure that constitutional rights are protected from the earliest point of contact with the criminal justice system,” Chief Judge Evans said in a statement Tuesday. “The concept of ‘justice’ demands that we take this step to strengthen an individual’s rights and the public’s confidence in the system.”
“In the eyes of the law," the judge continued, "everybody is innocent until proven guilty. Everybody deserves access to justice. They should always have the opportunity to speak with an attorney before talking to anybody else."
Public defenders will be on call 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, while volunteer attorneys from First Defense Legal Aid will assist detainees during other hours, on holidays and on weekends, Evans' office said.
Those who have been arrested still need to ask for a lawyer — but signs posted in Chicago Police Department stations will include phone numbers to reach free attorneys.
According to Evans' office, the number is not being shared publicly "to avoid unnecessary calls."
The new order doesn't guarantee attorney representation; arrestees will be assisted on a first-come, first-served basis.
"This is a huge step forward for my clients and the criminal justice system in Cook County," public defender Amy Campanelli said in a statement. "It brings integrity to the process. There is no greater right than the right to counsel when someone is arrested."
First Defense Legal Aid Executive Director Eliza Solowiej said: “Chicago holds the record for wrongful convictions based on false confessions made to police without the benefit of counsel. The chief judge’s action promises to end that epidemic and prevent much human suffering."
