Jailed woman sues Sheriff Dart over delayed release into electronic monitoring

Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart is running into a backlash from the Cook County public defender and other legal advocates of people who are remaining in jail as his office scrutinizes if they have violent backgrounds that should bar them from court-ordered home confinement under electronic monitoring.

Taphia Williams sued the sheriff's office in federal court this week, saying Dart unconstitutionally kept her in jail for more than 60 hours even though a nonprofit group had posted bail so she could go free on electronic monitoring as her case was pending. Her attorney, Sara Garber, is asking for class-action status.

"It is your obligation to provide security at the jail, not pick and choose its residents," Cook County Public Defender Amy Campanelli wrote to Dart on Wednesday.

Williams is charged with aggravated kidnapping, armed robbery, aggravated battery, aggravated domestic battery and unlawful restraint. On Sept. 15, she entered Cook County Jail, where she remained because she couldn't post 10 percent of her $250,000 bond.

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