New Probation Policy: Zero Tolerance for Sex Offenders

Cook County Probation officers say there’s a new pro-arrest policy regarding sexual offenders, which resulted from increased public scrutiny of their department.

 by Lee Williams

CHICAGO —The sex offender unit of the Cook County Adult Probation Department has arrested more sex offenders in the past two months —since increased scrutiny of their agency first began—than they did in the previous 15 years.

The four-officer sex offender unit has arrested 10 probationers since Dec. 9, according to sources within the department. Other units within the department are also taking a more aggressive, pro-arrest approach toward sexual predators. The arrests began after the Illinois Policy Institute first revealed systemic mismanagement within the agency.

Probation officers say there’s a new department-wide policy regarding sexual offenders. They sum it up in two words: Zero tolerance. Other positive changes are also underway within the agency.

For many officers, it’s about time.

Now, if a sexual offender violates curfew, he’’s arrested.

If a sexual offender tests positive for drugs, or gets kicked out of drug treatment, he’’s arrested.

If a sexual offender doesn’’t check in with his probation officer, he’’s arrested.

If he’’s caught with pornography, he’’s arrested.

This wasn’’t always the case.

An ongoing investigation by the Institute revealed how convicted sexual offender Acurie Collier was allowed to go unsupervised by his officer for months. The officer ignored more than 40 violations. As a result, Collier was able to meet a 13-year-old girl online, discover her address, force his way into her bedroom and sexually assault the child, according to police. Collier was arrested at the home after the girl’s mother called police. His case is pending.

The incident led to a civil rights lawsuit by the girl’s family, in which the officer and acting-Chief Probation Officer Jesus Reyes are named defendants. This lawsuit is currently working its way through the courts.

The probation officers say the sexual assault, the subsequent lawsuit and increased public scrutiny have all produced the new zero-tolerance stance regarding sexual offenders who violate their probation.

Reyes wasn’’t willing to be interviewed for this story. Assistant Chief Lavone Haywood, who oversees the department’s weapons units, was willing to talk.

“We’’ve stepped up our efforts,” Haywood told the Institute, quickly adding, “but it’s business as usual.”

Given the litigation pending against his boss and his department, Haywood seemed reluctant to admit the more aggressive policy was anything new. He didn’’t have to. Within the past few days, numerous probation officers told the Institute of the new and unprecedented policy.

“They’re finally letting us do our job,” one said.

“The culture was one of doing as little as possible—not making waves,” said another. “Now, we’re told that if a sex offender violates his probation, they get arrested.”

Haywood said the guidance he issues to his subordinates is clear, but not part of any new approach.

“Our job is to protect the public. We try to return people back to the community better than they were before,” Haywood said. “When I meet with my managers, the expectation is that if a probationer is not in compliance with his or her probation, they are to bring this back to the attention of the court.”

The officers say the culture isn’’t the only recent change to occur within the agency. Clearer and more concise policies are making their way into the hands of the troops.

Most of the policies contained in the department’s 1,000-page manual are outdated and poorly written.  The use-of-force policy—which is supposed to dictate when an officer is authorized to use deadly force—still lacks clarity, is based on outdated concepts, and could easily lead to an officer’s serious injury or death. The arrest and search-and-seizure policies, however, were recently re-written. They’re still awaiting Reyes’ signature.

Haywood said these policy changes are part of the normal review process.

“We review policies annually,” he said. “They all come up for review.”

Haywood is proud of his department, despite recent allegations and litigation.

“There are some 26,000 people we supervise here in Cook County. It’s a tough job,” he said. “As a department, we do a damn good job.”

The officers support the recent changes, regardless of the cause, but caution that “there is still a long, long way to go.”