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Despite Increase In Crime, Felony Prosecutions Down In Cook County

(CBS) -- Even as crime increases, fewer victims are getting justice. CBS 2's Jim Williams takes a look at why in this Original Report.

"I walked through a courthouse this morning, I had my own case up and I was looking around and the place was virtually empty," said CBS 2 Legal Analyst Irv Miller.

Miller's observation reflects the numbers we have from the clerk of the Circuit Court.

December through February a year ago, prosecutors filed 6,838 felony cases.

For the same three month period that ended two days ago: 6,166 felony cases filed, a nearly ten percent drop in prosecutions.

"The system is not running at full speed; it's slowing down," Miller said.

The drop happened at a time when murders and shootings are up sharply in Chicago.

Privately, some police officers say they've been less aggressive in the wake of Ferguson and Laquan McDonald, fearful they'll get in trouble. They complain they have to fill out much longer reports when they make street stops.

Interim Superintendent John Esclante said Tuesday officers are starting to adjust and it's paying off now.

"In the last 28 days our murder arrests are up," Escalante said. "Criminal sexual assault arrests are up, theft arrests, motor vehicle theft arrests, DUI arrests."

Last fall, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said cops had "gone fetal." Today, the message was different.

"I do know our officers want to do their job and they want to do it and they want to bring safety," Emanuel said. "This is not just a job to them. This is a career and a calling."

The ACLU's Ed Yohnka says "there's is no hard evidence to support the notion that the increased attention and oversight to police work - is resulting in fewer arrests or more crime."

Some police officers tell us they feel the heat, they think a lot of it is unfair and it's hampered crime-fighting.

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