Chicago Prosecutor Speaks Out Against City’s Crime Crisis

20-year veteran prosecutor from Cook County, Illinois, Jason Poje, has resigned and expressed his anger towards the state and county policies that have led to a rise in crime and violence. In Poje’s resignation letter, he made it clear the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office has backed every policy change that led to more crime.

Poje’s resignation letter highlights the grim reality of Chicago’s once world-class city that has degenerated into a grim landscape of brutality, bribery, and pervasive pessimism. He stated that “this State and County have set themselves on a course to disaster,” and there’s no need to convene a blue-ribbon committee to discover the root causes of what’s gone wrong.

Things like bond reform, shorter parole periods, lower sentences for repeat offenders, the unnecessary prosecution of law enforcement officers, overuse of diversion programs, and intentionally not pursuing prosecutions for crimes lawfully on the books after being passed by the legislature were some of the issues mentioned.

Poje expressed his despair and stated that his family, who once found a nice quiet corner of the suburbs, could no longer stay there because of the violence they experienced. “Now my son, who is only 5, hears gunfire while playing at our neighborhood park, and a drug dealer is open-air selling behind my house,” he wrote.

He added that he was not willing to raise his son in such an environment and was fortunate enough to have the means to escape. Chicago’s problems have been foreseen by many, and it’s not a mystery that if the law is not enforced and order is not maintained, chaos results.

The Democratic Party of Chicago has been playing a game of pretend, absolving itself of responsibility by blaming guns for the rampant violence, while at the same time interpreting racial bias in every situation. The newly elected mayor, Brandon Johnson, is on record for wanting to defund the police, adding more problems to the already troubled city.

Poje’s resignation letter should act as a clarion call to the policymakers and politicians of Chicago. The city needs pragmatic solutions that prioritize safety, lawfulness, and orderliness. These deep-rooted issues have been brewing for decades and will require sustained efforts over generations to be resolved. Until then, the people of Chicago will continue to endure the ramifications of flawed leadership.