Chicago Prosecutor Launches Task Force to Aggressively Prosecute CTA Crimes

Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke aims to deter violence on public transportation with new initiative.

Apr. 15, 2026 at 3:34am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a CTA transit card or ticket machine, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the investigation and prosecution of crimes on the CTA system.Aggressive prosecution aims to deter a recent surge in violent crimes on Chicago's public transit network.Chicago Today

Cook County State's Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke has created a new task force to aggressively prosecute violent crimes on the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) system. The goal is to deter future incidents and make the public transportation network safer for riders. The task force has 36 prosecutors and investigators who are working closely with the Chicago Police Department and CTA to utilize technology like gunshot detection, facial recognition, and video evidence to build strong cases. O'Neill Burke says the task force is already seeing success, with 81% of defendants in violent CTA crimes being detained pending trial, up significantly from 15 months ago.

Why it matters

Violent crime on the CTA has continued to be a major issue, even as overall crime has dropped in Chicago. This has affected ridership and public confidence in the transit system. O'Neill Burke's new task force aims to send a strong message that these crimes will be taken seriously and prosecuted aggressively in order to deter future incidents and make the CTA a safer place for commuters.

The details

The new CTA crime task force was launched last month by O'Neill Burke, who says it has already led to increased detention rates for defendants in violent CTA cases. Prosecutors are working closely with the Chicago Police Department and CTA to utilize various technologies like gunshot detection, facial recognition, and video evidence to build strong cases. O'Neill Burke says the goal is to ensure the "likelihood of being punished" for these crimes, which along with the "likelihood of being caught," are the two key factors that deter criminal behavior.

  • The task force was announced by O'Neill Burke last month.
  • Prosecutors began training at the Chicago Police Department's Strategic Decision Support Center in early March 2026.

The players

Eileen O'Neill Burke

The Cook County State's Attorney who created the new CTA crime task force.

Marquettia Johnson

A CTA rider who made an emotional plea for more security on public transportation at a recent CTA board meeting after her husband was killed in a violent incident on the Pink Line.

Raymond Harrison

Marquettia Johnson's husband who was killed in a violent incident on the CTA Pink Line.

Pedro Villarreal

The man accused of killing Raymond Harrison on the CTA.

Chicago Police Department (CPD)

A significant partner with the State's Attorney's Office in the new CTA crime task force, providing technology and resources to help prosecute these cases.

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What they’re saying

“And all you got is cameras. Where are the actual people that you all are saying are supposed to be on the train?”

— Marquettia Johnson, CTA rider

“We have seen violent crime drop in every category across the board in double-digit numbers. Where we have not seen a decrease, and actually had a significant increase, is violent crimes on the CTA. So, we created a task force with 36 prosecutors and investigators from all over the office, and we have gone in and done trainings with CTA, taking a look at what their technology is. And CPD has been a significant partner in this as well, and they have a lot of technology that helps us prove our cases.”

— Eileen O'Neill Burke, Cook County State's Attorney

“There's two things that deter crime. One is the likelihood of being caught, and the second is the likelihood of being punished. The state's attorney's office is in charge of the likelihood of being punished, and we've increased that likelihood significantly.”

— Eileen O'Neill Burke, Cook County State's Attorney

What’s next

The Federal Transit Administration has demanded a new safety plan for the Chicago transit system, threatening to withhold millions in funding if better safety measures are not implemented. Progress on the revised CTA safety plan is being monitored by the FTA.

The takeaway

This new task force represents a concerted effort by the Cook County State's Attorney's Office to crack down on violent crime on the CTA and restore a sense of safety and security for public transit riders in Chicago. By utilizing advanced technology and aggressive prosecution, O'Neill Burke hopes to send a strong deterrent message to would-be offenders.