Friends of Dorothy Brown

Dorothy Brown’s Accomplishments

Financial Accountability Accomplishments Increased Revenue while Reducing Expenditures! Introduced credit card payment system for bail bonds--led to quicker turnaround of persons in custody and reduction in cash discrepancies. Collected over $38 million. Strengthened collection strategies by getting the law changed to permit the use of collection agencies, resulting in the collection of $24.5 million; and created an internal Financial Compliance Unit that led to the collection of $2.036 million. Implemented cost-saving and revenue generating strategies that have turned the expenditures and revenues upside down; with revenues now more than expenditures by over $20 million; versus 10 years ago at the start of the Dorothy Brown administration, when expenditures were more than revenues by over ($10 million). Over $200 million new revenue dollars have been added to the county coffers.
Customer Service Accomplishments Raised awareness of $16+ million in unclaimed mortgage foreclosure surplus funds for distressed homeowners. Created online, searchable database of available surplus funds. Implemented online Orders of Protection (OOPs) forms, guidelines for completing OOPs, and instructions for obtaining court orders. Provided comprehensive information about expungement of criminal records online, at seminars and in public service announcements; instituted annual full service expungement summit that provides direct service to 4000+ customers. Created online search engine for parents to find unclaimed child support checks.
Technological Accomplishments Rebuilding the infrastructure Linked computers by installing wide area network. Replaced "dumb terminals" with flat-panel monitors and “thin clients.” Inaugurated internal and external email system, with periodic upgrades. Upgraded servers to Blade and SAN environment. Saving money Consolidated the mainframe system with Cook County for savings of $1 million. Creating user-friendly website and information kiosks Searchable database of 461 fillable court forms. Black Line Trial Call. Electronic docket searches for Chancery, Civil, Domestic Relations, Law, Probate and Traffic cases. Permitted online payment of traffic fines or to request court date for court diversion tickets. Installed information kiosks at Criminal/Felony, Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Divisions for easy case lookup and retrieval. li>Created searchable online index of Declaration of Intentions (Immigration) records. Improving information sharing with justice agencies Enhanced criminal warrant reporting to law enforcement. Implemented file transfer of summons data from Sheriff's Office to Clerk's Office. Instituted nightly reporting to Secretary of State's office of litigants who failed to pay court- ordered traffic fines. Organized and chaired Cook County Integrated Criminal Justice Information System Committee. Increasing internal efficiency Eliminated carbon paper transactions through automation of print jobs. Created imaging and document management system in County, Law and Probate Divisions. Migrated to distributed reporting in multiple divisions. Integrated cashiering system with electronic docket system to improve financial quality controls. E-filing Implemented e-filing for commercial litigation in Law Division. Roll out to other divisions coming soon, based on Circuit Court approval. Download the Accomplishments Document

Paid for by Friends of Dorothy Brown. A copy of our report is filed with the State Board of Elections, Springfield Illinois . State law requires political committees to report the name and mailing address of contributions that exceed $150 in aggregate in a calendar year. Occupation and Employer information is required for contributions over $500. Contributions are not tax deductible.