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Collaboration. Transparency. Courage.
Community is at the heart of public defense.
Everything we do is driven by our commitment to providing accessibility, accountability, and agency to the diverse communities of Cook County. The Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender goes beyond the courtroom to show up for our clients in their own neighborhoods. We meet people where they are—because public defense is stronger when it reflects the people it protects.
Our dedicated Community Engagement Team build relationships and coalitions through outreach, collaboration, education, and deep listening. Alongside our attorneys, investigators, caseworkers and other specialist volunteers, the Community Engagement team hosts:
- Mentorship Programs and Youth Justice Initiatives.
- Healing Circles and Legal Empowerment Workshops.
- Educational Presentations on Pretrial Reform and the Criminal Legal System.
We work to prevent incarceration, reduce recidivism, and encourage equitable representation by partnering with schools, churches, advocacy groups, and grassroots organizations. This holistic approach is fueled by our community presence at local events, parades, and festivals, ensuring we support not just the individual, but the entire family unit where they live and celebrate. Our outreach and education topics include:
- Know Your Rights: Navigating Interactions with Police
- Know Your Rights: Cannabis Use and Possession
- Immigration: Understanding the Intersection between Immigration and Criminal Law
- The Dos and Don’ts of Legal Gun Possession
To request a workshop, to invite us to your event or school, or to provide community feedback to our office, please contact pdevents@cookcountyil.gov.
To learn more about our efforts, please follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
To hear Public Defenders in their own words, check out the Cook County Public Defender Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
2025 Highlights
- January - May 2025: Building the team, preparing the space, and planning
For the first part of the year, we focused our efforts on the planning process for the Freedom Defense Center of Austin, including bringing on new staff and training them. We also worked on getting the Freedom Defense Center of Roseland ready to open. - May 2025: Freedom Defense Center of Austin completes planning process and Freedom Defense Center of Roseland opens
The Freedom Defense Center of Austin holds its final planning circle and the Freedom Defense Center of Roseland opened its doors to community. - September 2025: Freedom Defense Center of Austin opens
The Freedom Defense Center of Austin kicked off it's opening with a community basketball tournament and legal resource fiar serving more than 300 young people. - September - December 2025: The work continues...
We supported more than 28 events in 17 weeks. These events were held all over Cook County and were focused on responding to the needs of community. - We partnered with 80+ organizations and involved 150+ defenders from our office in engaging with 25,000+ community members
