In Chicago, information reveals that nearly one in twelve criminal defendants released on ankle monitors before trial lacks employment. Alarmingly, despite some participants in this program allegedly continuing to engage in violent criminal behavior, officials seem to lose track of their whereabouts.
Data from the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk shows that out of 3,048 defendants released pretrial with ankle monitors, 246 are currently missing, no longer actively monitored. Some of these individuals are under suspicion for serious crimes, including Alfanso Talley, who was charged with murdering Officer John Bartholomew of the Chicago Police Department.
Here’s a brief overview of those on pretrial release with ankle monitors for violent crimes:
- 13 defendants charged with attempted murder
- 103 charged with sexual assault
- 21 charged with murder
- 173 charged with aggravated battery
Cook County Chief Judge Charles Beach mentioned to a local news outlet that law enforcement is working to locate the missing individuals. He noted, “Just because someone is untracked doesn’t necessarily imply they’re committing another crime. For some, it could be the case, but an active search is ongoing.”
Defense for the judge who handled Talley’s past cases was offered by Beach, who stated in December that the convicted felon’s mindset might be improving. Talley’s initial placement on electronic monitoring was recorded as December 11, 2025, though by early March, his monitor had detected two violations in just three days.
Interestingly, Beach remarked about the difficulty of predicting human behavior, indicating that the judge’s decisions were made based on the information available at the time. He stated, “I don’t believe it was a misjudgment—judges make their best calls based on current information.”
Talley isn’t the only one accused of violent offenses while under electronic monitoring. In November 2025, Lawrence Reed, a repeat offender, allegedly set a woman on fire on a Blue Line train, reportedly yelling, “Burn!”
Reed was previously charged with aggravated assault in August 2025 but was released with an ankle monitor despite prosecutors’ objections, and records indicate he has faced at least 13 arrests since 2017.
Additionally, Marlon Miller, arrested in December 2025 for allegedly assaulting three women downtown, was also wearing an ankle monitor during the incidents. One of the victims, Sherry Bester, recounted her experience, saying she felt intense pain from the blows she received.
In the midst of all this, Judge Beach defended the new SAFE-T law and the movement towards cashless bail, arguing that the elimination of money bail doesn’t necessarily compromise county safety. He pointed out, “There were people who could afford bail and still committed atrocious acts. The absence of money bail doesn’t change this reality—it illustrates the inherent challenges of a system grounded on the presumption of innocence.”
