Cook County's court system will begin responding sooner to violators of its home confinement program, the Office of the Chief Judge announced Wednesday.The reforms to the electronic monitoring program come nearly two months after newly sworn-in Chief Judge Charles Beach formed a committee to improve it. The program has faced criticism since before it was transferred last year to the Chief Judge's office from the Cook County sheriff's office, which decided to phase it out due to safety concerns.Starting Feb. 7, all major violations or disappearances from electronic monitoring will be returned to court for judicial review within 24 hours on weekends, according to a statement from Beach’s office. Unauthorized absences that will flag court officials have been reduced to three hours from the previous trigger of 48 hours.The Cook County sheriff’s office has agreed to expedite service when a warrant is issued related to an absence, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court has agreed to ensure they’re placed on the court call within 24 hours, according to the statement.The committee convened by Beach at the start of his tenure is also looking at expanding some services further into the weekend as it evaluates staffing and the volume of reports.“These updates reinforce the Court’s commitment to timely judicial oversight and clear lines of responsibility,” Beach said in the statement. “Electronic monitoring is a tool of the court, and these protocols help ensure violations are addressed promptly, transparently and consistent with judicial authority.”Late last year, Beach beat eight-time incumbent Timothy Evans as management of the office’s electronic monitoring program faced increasing criticism.Among those critics was Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke, who last year instructed her lawyers to object to any use of electronic monitoring, saying it was "a serious threat to public safety." Her office didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.Burke has said the chief judge’s staff are not law enforcement officers and cannot investigate, seek escape charges or obtain an arrest warrant in the case of violations without the assistance of law enforcement. The office, then under Evans, admitted it would need more than 150 new hires, new office space, additional training and more resources to run the expanded operation.Burke has touted increased pretrial detention rates for suspects charged with assault weapons possession, domestic violence and other violent crimes as a crowning achievement of her tenure this far. She has said she is confident that her office can work with Beach to strengthen the system. She has suggested a law enforcement component to better guarantee compliance. ...read more read less