What happens to imprisonment rates when a progressive prosecutor is elected: Quasi-experimental evidence from Cook County.

This article examines the impact of electing Kim Foxx, a progressive prosecutor, as Cook County, Illinois State’s Attorney in 2016 on imprisonment rates overall and by race/ethnicity. Using a quasi-experimental synthetic control method that accounts for preelection trends, the study finds that Foxx’s election was associated with significant reductions in overall imprisonment rates as well as for Black and White individuals, but not for Latinx individuals. Despite these declines, substantial racial disparities in imprisonment persisted, with White imprisonment rates decreasing proportionally more than Black rates. The findings suggest that while progressive prosecutors like Foxx can reduce incarceration levels, addressing racial disparities may require reforms extending beyond nonviolent offenses and encompassing how violent offenses and prior records are prosecuted.