If you believe that you have been subjected to unlawful political discrimination in connection with hiring, promotion, transfer, discipline, discharge or any other term or aspect of employment with the Sheriff of Cook County after October 30, 2008, you may have a claim for damages against the Sheriff.
NOTE: If you believe you have a claim for unlawful political discrimination occurring between June 1, 2006 and October 30, 2008, please go to Making a Claim for Discrimination that you believe occurred between June 1, 2006 and October 30, 2008.
A. Making a Claim. To make a claim, you must submit an “SRO Complaint Form” to the Sheriff’s Office of Professional Review (the“OPR”), located at 3026 S. California Ave. Chicago, IL 60608. Your SRO Complaint Form must be received by the OPR within 180 days after you knew or should have known of the alleged unlawful conduct. Your SRO Complaint Form must include a sworn statement setting forth your claims and must include:
- the date or dates of the alleged violation;
- narrative description of the alleged violation;
- a description of the alleged damages;
- identifying information including your name, address, telephone number; and
- copies of the appropriate supporting documentation, if in your possession.
Summary of Claims Procedures
Notice of Rights
SRO Arbitration Demand Form
SRO Arbitration Demand Procedures
SRO Complaint Form
SRO Complaint Procedures
B. Investigation of Your Claim. The OPR will investigate your claim and will issue a written report of its determination within 180 days of receipt of your claim. The Compliance Administrator for the Sheriff of Cook County (“SSCA”) will monitor OPR’s investigation of your claim. If the OPR determines that the Office of the Sheriff discriminated against you, it will indicate so in its Report. If you disagree with the OPR’s determination, you can elect either to participate in the SRO Arbitration Procedure or file a complaint in Federal Court, but you may not do both.
C. Post-SRO Arbitration Procedure. If you elect to participate in the SRO Arbitration Procedure, you will have 30 days from the date you receive the OPR Case Report to submit your written demand for arbitration. You must submit your written demand for arbitration to the Sheriff’s General Counsel at:
Peter Kramer, General Counsel
Office of the Sheriff of Cook County
50 W. Washington, Suite 702
Chicago, IL 60602
Within 28 days of receipt of the Arbitration Demand, you will participate in a settlement conference. If the parties are unable to reach a settlement, you can proceed to Arbitration. After conducting a hearing including reviewing documentation and hearing testimony, the Arbitrator will issue a decision.
The following forms should be used for Post-SRO Claims:
Summary of Claims Procedures
Notice of Rights
SRO Arbitration Demand Form
SRO Arbitration Demand Procedures
SRO Complaint Form
SRO Complaint Procedures
IMPORTANT: If you choose not to participate in the Post-SRO claims process, you may still pursue your claim in Federal Court. You should contact an attorney to discuss your claim.
D. Filing a Complaint in Federal Court. You can file a complaint in Federal Court. You will have 30 days from the date you receive the OPR Case Report to file a complaint for a violation of the SRO. If you file a complaint in Federal Court, you cannot participate in the SRO Arbitration Process.
IMPORTANT: If you choose not to participate in the Post-SRO claims process, you may still pursue your claim in Federal Court. You should contact an attorney to discuss your claim.
- The SRO provides that no person shall take any retaliatory action against any individual who exercises any right provided by the SRO, or who reports violations of the Sheriff’s Consent Decrees or the SRO. If you believe that the Sheriff’s Office has retaliated against you for either filing a claim for unlawful political discrimination or for reporting unlawful political discrimination in connection with hiring, promotion, transfer, discipline, discharge or any other term or aspect of employment with the Sheriff of Cook County, you may have a claim for damages against the Sheriff.
- Claims Process for Retaliation
You must submit a Report of Retaliation Form to the SSCA:
Clifford L. Meacham
69 W. Washington St. Suite 840
Chicago, IL 60602
and you must follow the Post-SRO Claims Process. See above.
If you have questions regarding your claim, please contact the SSCA at 312.603.8910 or questions@sheriffshakman.com.
If you need assistance in preparing your claim, volunteers from The University of Chicago are available to assist you. Their resources are limited, however, so they may not be able to help everyone who contacts them.
Please contact:
Randall Schmidt
University of Chicago
Mandel Legal Clinic
6020 University Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637
(773) 702-9611
|
