subject: Corruption In Cook County? [print this page] Back in 1869, some Cook County commissioners apparently accepted bribes in return for approving a contract they knew to be fraudulent. Convicted on criminal charges, the commissioners started something of a corruption trend that has seen an average of a little more than one top official convicted each year for the last 140 years or so. Aside from the scandal caused, the propensity for corruption among such government officials has proved a significant financial liability as each accused politician has hired a defense lawyer to go to battle with the District Attorney in office when the scandal breaks. And sadly, as Cook County residents know, the cycle seems to continue even when convictions are won by the D.A.'s office.
Whether tales of bribes from long ago or current reports regarding the misuse of campaign funds, Cook County cannot seem to escape its reputation for government corruption or the perception of criminal activity at every level of political leadership. Despite calls for and attempts at reform over the decades, each new era seems to reveal another area of corruption that went undetected and eluded reforms.
There is a silver lining that can be gleaned from the annals of Cook County's history, however: Despite the corruption, despite false allegations of corruption that were politically motivated, despite a sometimes tarnished reputation, Cook County is proof that the judicial system envisioned and put in place by our nation's founders functions is able to serve its intended purpose the majority of the time. The guilty are convicted and brought to justice. The innocent are able, with the assistance of a Cook County criminal defense attorney, to defend themselves against erroneous criminal charges. In spite of individual instances of corruption at the county level, the system as whole is effective in securing justice and defending liberty for the citizens of Cook County.
And, that silver lining is more than simply a sugar-coating to cover any embarrassment that Cook County denizens may have regarding the county's reputation because it ensures that every citizen in every nook and cranny of the county enjoys the benefits of the that same judicial system. Those who are the victims of criminal activity have the assurance that justice will be sought on their behalf, just as those accused of a criminal offense know that their right to provide a suitable defense with the aid of a Cook County criminal defense attorney will be upheld.
If you have been charged in Cook County, the same rights apply to you. Consult with a criminal defense attorney to discern what your options are regarding your case. Your defense attorney will aggressively pursue the outcome that is in your very best interests while ardently defending and upholding both your rights and your innocence.
