Tim Scannell            Molly Hicken
         County Attorney    Asst. County Attorney

My name is Tim Scannell, and I am your County Attorney.  I am an independently elected public official, and I serve as the chief prosecutor of all adult felony and juvenile crimes in Cook County. My Office is responsible for protecting the rights and the safety of all people in Cook County.  In addition to prosecution, we provide legal counsel to the Board of Commissioners and all county departments and offices; represent the county government in civil lawsuits, child support matters, civil commitments, and child protection actions; as well as handle forfeitures and civil recovery matters. Needless to say, we stay very busy.

As your County Attorney, I am committed to keeping you informed about my Office and about public safety and welfare issues. Because of the broad set of responsibilities we have, the Cook County Attorney's Office touches many people's lives, whether through programs targeted at preventing crime before it happens, intervening early with youths heading toward trouble, aggressively prosecuting criminals, or collecting child support for families attempting to become self-sufficient. It is our goal to always act professionally in these capacities while treating everyone we come in contact with courteously and with respect.

The mission of the Cook County Attorney's Office is to:

• Serve the people of Cook County;
• Protect and provide for the public safety by the vigorous and just prosecution of adult and juvenile violations of the law;
• Provide support and assistance to victims and witnesses of crimes;
• Provide quality legal advice and effective representation to Cook County and its citizens;
• Protect children from neglect and abuse;
• Support children and families by seeking the fair enforcement of child support obligations;
• Provide leadership and guidance on legal and public policy issues important to the citizens of Cook County.

The employees of the Cook County Attorney's Office are well-qualified, competent, and dedicated to the fulfillment of this mission by employing the highest ethical standards and showing respect for every citizen's rights. We will respond to the citizens of Cook County professionally and as efficiently as possible, given our resources.