Research Analyst

Cook County

Sheriff

Job Code: 8660

Job Title: Research Analyst

Salary Grade: 20

Department: Office of Data Science and Analytics

Bargaining Unit: Not Applicable

Position Details: Civilian (non-sworn) / non-merit ranked / internal & external candidates

FLSA Status: Exempt

Probation Period: 12 Months

Characteristics of the Position

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is seeking a full time Research Analyst. The Research Analyst will assist the CCSO’s Executive Director of Research in producing specific, timely and data-driven analyses on various operations throughout the CCSO, including the individuals in custody (IICs) at the CCDOC, staffing, law enforcement operations, and other CCSO initiatives, policies, and programs.

Under the guidance of the Executive Director of Research, the Research Analyst will work directly with various department heads within the CCSO employ data for the purposes of developing and guiding CCSO policies and strategies. The Research Analyst will assist in collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data related to Sheriff’s initiatives in the Department of Corrections, Sheriff’s Police, and Court Services.

The Research Analyst will be responsible for performing specialized administrative work which may include a wide range of administrative duties and must demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of various aspects of CCSO operations.

Key Responsibilities and Duties

Prepares statistical reports and analyses as needed to aid with the development of policies to address specific needs of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.

Performs on-going analyses of IIC data (individuals in custody) and develops reports/research bulletins describing the characteristics of the jail’s IIC population, tracking, and analyzing changes in these characteristics over time.

Performs on-going analyses related to classification, inmate housing needs and facility management.

Assists with evaluations of Cook County Sheriff’s Office programs, including grant funded programs, to improve or expand programs over time.

Conducts analyses on data from the Circuit Court of Cook County, other stakeholders in the County’s criminal justice system, data from local law enforcement agencies, Cermak Health Services, and Cook County Medical Examiner to document how decisions and operations of systems external to the jail may impact or overlap with the population and operation of the Cook County Department of Corrections.

Researches and analyzes data relating to law enforcement strategies. Participates in review and validation of computer-aided dispatch data.

Sets and meets goals for themselves and the team, accountable for project deadlines and successful completion of projects.

Effectively documents key processes and methods related decisions for each assigned project.

Performs various administrative functions, including answering telephone calls, sorting documentation, and filing, assisting in verifying, organizing, entering, and reviewing data.

Attends regular meetings regarding data analysis; prepares detailed reports and presentations on a regular basis, as assigned by the Executive Director of Research.

Ensures that all sensitive and restricted information and materials are handled with complete confidentiality and discretion.

Capable of performing duties with minimal supervision and managing projects from beginning to end.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge and skill in the use of databases and software applications, with the ability to create, edit and analyze data; ability to collect, analyze and evaluate evidence, statistics, and other information to draw logical conclusions.

Experience cleaning and analyzing data in STATA, R, SAS, Python, or similar statistical programming language.

Proficiency in the use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; ability to prepare graphs, charts, tables, and other illustrative documents.

Excellent report writing skills.

Knowledge of statistical analysis.

Ability to use statistical research techniques.

Good attention to detail, ability to proof, verify and edit complex written reports written by others or by oneself, and to communicate/make changes and improvements as needed during the report review process.

Skill in interacting with others to investigate, gather and review confidential materials, information, and data.

Ability to exercise sound judgment and to make sound decisions and carry out programs affecting one’s own work and the work of others in a changing work environment.

Skill and knowledge, as may be pertinent to the area of assignment, in connection with correct technical, legal, and other language usage, punctuation and grammar, and their proper application to business forms, letters and records.

Skill and accuracy in the control, organization and maintenance of files and records according to various methods.

Good communication skills: ability to exercise diplomacy, gather information from others and make inquiries; ability to get along well with others.

Skill in the application of complex instructions, written and verbal; ability to accurately relate such instructions in full or part to other staff.

Ability to coordinate several tasks at one time and perform well under pressure; ability to fill in for and perform the duties of other support staff as needed; ability to relieve management of certain administrative functions.

Ability to understand and follow through on oral and written instructions.

Ability to maintain a professional appearance and attitude at all times.

Possesses the ability to remain composed at all times for the purpose of gathering and dispatching information accurately and efficiently.

Ability to sit for extended periods of time working at a computer terminal.

Ability to work with diverse groups to achieve consensus.

Minimum Qualifications

Possession of a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Behavioral Sciences, Predictive Analytics, Economics, Statistics, or a closely related field.

One (1) or more years of experience in the use of R, STATA, or other statistical analysis software.

Must successfully pass background investigation(s) with results showing no past criminal record of conviction for a felony or misdemeanor.

Preferred Qualifications

Possession of a graduate degree in Criminal Justice, Psychology, Behavioral Sciences, Predictive Analytics, Economics, Statistics, or a closely related field.

Experience working with court systems and/or pre-trial detention data.

Experience working within a criminal justice agency.

Experience in the use of ArcGIS, Tableau, Python, and/or Microsoft SQL.

The duties listed are not set forth for purposes of limiting the assignment of work. They are not to be construed as a complete list of the many duties normally to be performed under a job title or those to be performed temporarily outside an employee’s normal line of work.

**Article EE, Civilian Recruitment and Selection Process, of the Sheriff’s Employment Action Manual (SEAM), applies to this employment process and can be found at the following link: https://www.cookcountysheriff.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/SEAM-Article-EE-Civilian-Recruitment-and-Selection-Process-10-17-19.pdf

Please note that there are no remote job opportunities, all positions are located onsite.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Office prohibits all unlawful discrimination in its hiring and promotional process.

All Cook County Sheriff’s Office employees must apply on the internal employment page to be considered; the application may be accessed via the SheriffNet site.

• Note: All Internal Applicants are subject to Cook County Promotional salary rules if selected.

I Certify that no Political Reasons or Factors were considered in any decision I made or action I took related to this Employment Action. Further, I do not know of or have any reason to believe that anyone else considered or took action based on Political Reasons or Factors with respect to this Employment Action.

EEO Statement

At the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, we value and embrace you. It’s our belief that diversity and inclusion is an essential component to our success as an organization. Accordingly, we are committed to provide a work environment free of discrimination and harassment. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office policy applies throughout the employment relationship—including recruitment, hiring, training, advancement, separation, and day-to-day practices. The Cook County Sheriff’s Office employment decisions will not be based on race, color and ancestry, religion, national origin, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, family or parental status, disability, medical history, genetic information, or any basis prohibited by applicable law. Employment decisions will be based on an applicant’s merit and qualifications, the position requirements, and our business needs.

Benefits

Health Insurance Program – Health insurance coverage includes medical, dental and vision care and is available for an employee and his/her eligible dependents.

Holidays – Thirteen (13) Holidays are granted in each Fiscal Year

Sick Leave – Granted sick leave is earned and accrued at the rate of one (1) day for each month of service and may be accumulated up to one hundred and seventy-five (175) working days.

Vacation Leave – Granted Vacation leave is earned and accrued, with employees having the opportunity to accrue fifteen (15) days within the Fiscal Year; Vacation leave accruals increase based on an employee’s anniversary date of employment.

Life Insurance – Basic term life insurance, equal to one (1) time the employee’s annual salary, is offered to every employee at no cost and the employee may elect to purchase supplemental coverage.

Pension Plan – Employees contribute into the Cook County Pension Fund and earn a prescribed percentage for each year of service; employees may be eligible for an annual annuity after ten (10) years of service and upon reaching a certain age based on when the employee started employment.

Deferred Compensation Program – Employees may elect to enroll in a deferred compensation plan, a tax deferred plan which may be used as a supplemental retirement option.

The 2025 Cook County Employee Benefits Overview can be viewed at https://www.cookcountyil.gov/sites/g/files/ywwepo161/files/documents/2024-10/OE25.Employee Benefits Overview_FINAL..pdf

Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace

It is the policy of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office to provide a drug- and alcohol-free workplace for all members.

It is imperative that all Sheriff’s Office members are capable of devoting constant and uninterrupted attention to the performance of all assigned duties without risk to safety and security for themselves, other members, or the public. To ensure the goals of this policy are met, all Sheriff’s Office members shall be subject to drug and alcohol testing, whether mandatory, random, or based on reasonable suspicion.

INCLUSION

We welcome you—the whole you. Your background, your culture, your ethnicity, your unique experiences, your way of looking at the world. We truly believe that your individuality helps us create a diverse, inclusive, and inspired workplace in which every ethnicity, nationality, religion, elder status, family structure and gender identity is embraced and valued. We also welcome your passion for making the lives of children, your co-workers, and our organization better. Because as different as we are, that’s the common theme that will always keep us moving forward together. *Must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.* This position requires successful completion of post-offer tests, which may include a background check, drug screen and/or medical examination. Falsification of any information in the application process will result in disqualification and ineligible for appointment to, or employment in, a position in the County service for a period of five years. For current Cook County Sheriff’s employees, such falsification may result in discipline, up to and including termination, and ineligible for appointment to or employment in a position in the County service for a period of five years. See Cook County Code of Ordinances, Article II, Sections 44-54 Unlawful Practices Relating to Employees and Employment - Penalty, 44-56 Political Discrimination; Cook County Employment Plan, Section V.N. Pre-Interview License and Certification Verification; Supplemental Policy No. 2014-2.13 Ineligible for Rehire List; and Cook County Personnel Rules 3.3(b) (7) (8) (18).

THE COOK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER NOTE

As an internal candidate, should you be offered the position, salary allocations shall abide by the Cook County Personnel Rules. “The Cook County Sheriff’s Office hiring process is governed by the Sheriff’s Employment Action Manual (SEAM) which prohibits employment actions from being influenced by any Political Reasons or Factors for Non-Exempt Positions. The advertisement of this position by any individual does not constitute an offer or promise of employment, promotion, or any other employment action and shall not influence the Cook County Sheriff’s Office hiring decision. Cook County Sheriff’s officials and employees who become aware of or receive a complaint that involves an allegation of Political Reasons or Factors being considered in the hiring process of Non-Exempt positions are obligated to refer the complaint to the Cook County Compliance Officer. If the Cook County Compliance Officer sustains allegations of Political Reasons or Factors being considered, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office will disqualify the Applicant or Candidate from consideration for employment and disciplinary action will be imposed on any involved Cook County employees, if applicable."