On December 23, 2020, Theodore Becker died after contracting COVID-19 inside of Cook County Jail. He was 64 years old and, and is now the ninth person to die from COVID-19 while in the custody of Cook County Jail. In December, 370 people tested positive in the jail.

At the time of his death, Mr. Becker had been caged in Cook County Jail for eight years. After developing complications from COVID-19, Mr. Becker’s lawyer filed a motion to release. Unfortunately, Mr. Becker passed one day before his motion could be heard. 

Mr. Becker’s death was preventable. At the start of the pandemic, CCBF and more than 100 other organizations wrote an open letter calling on Cook County Jail to immediately release individuals over the age of 50 or with compromised immune systems. 

CCBF honors the life of Theodore Becker. Until Cook County Jail is closed, no one inside is safe.

The number of people incarcerated in Cook County Jail remains at a pre-pandemic level of more than 5,400. Cook County’s elected officials have a responsibility to take bold action NOW, before more lives are inevitably lost. No one should have to suffer the cruelty and neglect of unsafe and unsanitary conditions. 

Take Action: Tell the Cook County State’s Attorney and Chief Judge to do the right thing and reduce the number of people incarcerated in Cook County Jail. Demand that Sheriff Dart reinstate the social distancing practices originally ordered by the federal court.

Call-in & Email Scripts

State’s Attorney’s Office

Phone: (312) 603-1880

Email: statesattorney@cookcountyil.gov

“Hi, my name is ____ and I live in ____. I’m calling to demand that the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office take steps to dramatically lower the number of people in jail in response to COVID-19. This means declining to prosecute most cases, not filing new violations of bond or probation conditions, and instructing line prosecutors to support release of people currently detained pretrial in Cook County Jail in bond hearings.”

Sheriff’s Office

Phone: (312) 603-6444

Email: CCSO@cookcountyil.gov

“Hi, my name is ____ and I live in ____. I’m calling to demand that the Cook County Sheriff’s Office take steps to dramatically lower the number of people in jail in response to COVID-19 and ensure that anyone in his custody is able to practice social distancing.”

Office of the Chief Judge

Phone: (312) 603-6000

Email: timothy.evans@cookcountyil.gov

“Hi, my name is ____ and I live in ____. I’m calling to demand that the Cook County Chief Judge take steps to dramatically lower the number of people in jail in response to COVID-19. This means facilitating bond review hearings for people currently in jail and instructing judges not to admit new people to the jail.”