Chicago Police Officers Granted Authority to File Felony Gun Charges Directly
Chicago police officers now have the power to file certain felony gun possession charges without the need for prosecutor approval, announced the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office on Friday. This expansion of authority follows a successful pilot program in the Englewood(7th) District that was first reported by CWBChicago earlier this year.
Under the new Expedited Felony Review standard, specially trained officers can directly charge specific nonviolent felony gun offenses that do not involve shootings or victims. These charges include unlawful possession of a weapon, unlawful possession of a weapon by a felon, and aggravated unlawful possession of a weapon, as outlined by the state’s attorney’s office.
Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke explained that the initiative aims to alleviate a major bottleneck in the county’s felony review system, where lower-level, “victimless” gun cases often take a backseat to urgent violent-crime investigations. Burke emphasized that streamlining the process will enable officers to return to patrol duties quicker and allow prosecutors to focus on cases involving victims and complex evidence.
“This initiative helps police officers get back on the streets promptly and allows prosecutors to concentrate on the most serious crimes,” stated Burke.
Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling praised the new process for enhancing safety by expediting officer return to duty.
The program was initially tested in the Englewood District and later expanded to the Calumet (5th) District in April. During the pilot phase, 99 percent of the directly filed cases either survived a preliminary hearing or led to a grand jury indictment, according to O’Neill Burke’s office.
Officials highlighted the presence of safety measures within the new process. For instance, eligible cases must be supported by body-worn camera footage, and a district watch commander must approve each filing. Prosecutors still conduct a review before cases proceed to court or grand jury, and officers have the option to seek legal advice from prosecutors in the felony review unit prior to filing.
Burke mentioned that initial feedback from police and prosecutors indicated that the program reduced delays that previously kept officers off-duty for extended periods and sometimes led to witnesses withdrawing cooperation in more serious cases. She added that expanding the process citywide is part of a broader effort to streamline felony review while upholding constitutional standards.
Additional in-person and online training sessions for CPD personnel will continue through early 2026, with full integration expected by late January.
Original reporting you’ll see nowhere else, paid for by our readers. Click here to support our work.
