People were told ankle monitors would help keep dangerous suspects under watch while they waited for trial.
But new numbers out of Cook County, Illinois show authorities have lost track of hundreds of them — including people charged with murder.
A new court transparency dashboard released by Chief Judge Charles Beach II shows that 243 out of 3,048 defendants on electronic ankle monitors were listed as missing as of April 3, 2026.
That means roughly 8% of people in the county’s electronic monitoring program could not be located.
The missing group includes 21 people charged with murder and 13 charged with attempted murder.
The numbers come after Cook County moved control of the ankle monitor program to the Adult Probation Department in 2025.
The data also lands after several violent crimes tied to people accused of breaking the rules of their electronic monitoring release.
Critics say the system is becoming a revolving door where people charged with serious crimes face little real supervision once released.
Supporters of pretrial release programs argue ankle monitors are still safer and less costly than holding every defendant in jail before trial.
What the money/evidence shows
- 3,048 defendants were on electronic monitoring as of April 3, 2026
- 243 were listed as missing
- Missing defendants make up about 8% of the program
- 21 missing defendants were charged with murder
- 13 missing defendants were charged with attempted murder
THE BIGGER QUESTION
This story is really about trust.
If courts tell the public that electronic monitoring keeps tabs on dangerous defendants, what happens when hundreds vanish without anyone knowing where they are?
It also raises a deeper question about the balance between public safety and jail reform.
Many cities moved toward lighter pretrial rules after years of criticism over overcrowded jails and cash bail systems. But cases like this are fueling fears that some reforms were rolled out faster than systems could safely handle.
THE OTHER SIDE
Backers of electronic monitoring say most people in the program do follow the rules and appear in court.
They also argue that being listed as “missing” does not always mean someone is committing new crimes. Some may have cut off monitors, moved, or failed to check in while authorities work to locate them. Still, the large number of missing defendants — especially those facing violent charges — will likely alarm many residents.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW
Cook County leaders will likely face growing calls for stricter rules on who qualifies for electronic monitoring release.
The new dashboard may also increase pressure for faster warrant enforcement and tighter tracking systems for people accused of violent crimes.
For regular people, the story adds to an already tense debate over crime, bail reform, and whether local governments are being fully honest about how well these programs work.
What we still don’t know
- How long many of the missing defendants have been unaccounted for
- How many were later found or arrested again
- Whether the county plans to tighten release rules after the new data