Cook County invites individuals with outstanding warrants to first-ever ‘warrant resolution’ day

On Saturday, April 27, Cook County will host a warrant resolution day. 

The first of its kind. 

“We’re really excited about this,” Brenda Port, the substance use disorder/co-occurring case manager with Cook County Public Health and Human Services, said.

The event is hosted by Cook County Public Health and Human Services in collaboration with the 6th Judicial District and the Cook County Attorney. 

Port said the warrant resolution day will provide the 45 individuals in Cook County with current misdemeanor and gross misdemeanor warrants with an opportunity to find a resolution. 

She said having a warrant out for an arrest, whether for missing court, not meeting conditions of probation, or any other factor, can be nerve-wracking for individuals who fear going to jail. 

Port said the primary intent of the warrant resolution day is to aid individuals and reduce the disproportionate impact of the warrant system. Most importantly, she said, “No one is going to jail.”

“Anyone that comes with a warrant, they’re going to see attorneys, they’re going to see the judge, and they’re going home that day with a new plan,” Port said. 

Judge Steve Hanke, the newly appointed district court judge for the North Shore, is working alongside Port to enact the warrant resolution day. “He’s very passionate as well about just making sure people can get everything they need taken care of and move forward in the right way,” she said. 

Individuals are invited to show up anytime between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, at the Cook County Courthouse to meet with a public defender, the judge, and Port to find a path forward to resolve their warrant. “I think it can be a very positive thing for families to go through,” Port said. “And this whole point of it is to be a positive interaction with the justice system.”

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Brenda Port, the substance use disorder/co-occurring case manager, and Cook County Public Health and Human Services about the upcoming warrant resolution day. The audio from the interview is below. 

Kalli Hawkins April 24, 2024