Press Release

Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx Names Donyelle Gray as Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

CHICAGO – State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announced today the appointment of Donyelle Gray as the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI).

“Donyelle’s appointment underscores our dedication to creating a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve,” said State’s Attorney Foxx. “It also signifies the office’s commitment to examining how we as a prosecutor’s office can strive for a fairer criminal justice system.”

As Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Donyelle will work closely with the Executive Team, Human Resources, and Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), to create an even more inclusive work culture, help attract, recruit, and retain a diverse workforce, and advance policy for a more equitable criminal justice system.

For the past five years, Donyelle has served as the Office’s Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Officer, where she fostered a discrimination-free workplace and provided support and guidance on issues of discrimination. Before joining the CCSAO in 2018, Donyelle spent over a decade with the Illinois Human Rights Commission.

“I am excited to have the opportunity to advance our work in creating an inclusive and equitable culture,” said Donyelle Gray. “Investing in diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives is not just the right thing to do, but a requirement towards meeting our mission of doing justice in the pursuit of thriving, healthy, and safe communities.”

Since taking office, State’s Attorney Foxx has been committed to addressing inequities both in the office and within the criminal justice system. In addition to creating the CCSAO’s first DEI role, under her leadership the office has:   

  • Increased the percentage of Asian American, Black, and Hispanic employees 
  • Mandated implicit bias training 
  • Invested in and expanded the Employee Resource Groups that aim to increase the sense of belonging for historically underrepresented groups and their allies  
  • Launched a demographic survey to better understand the Office’s organizational makeup  
  • Implemented new hiring software that generates demographic analytics on demographics and uncovers inequities in the hiring and onboarding processes   

State’s Attorney Foxx’s leadership and impact on the criminal justice system include:  

  • Expanding diversion programs to offer a wide range of alternatives to traditional prosecution for low-level nonviolent offenders 
  • Exonerating unjust and wrongful convictions  
  • Advocating for resentencing initiatives when sentences no longer serve the interest of justice. 
  • Hiring the office’s first-ever Chief Data Officer and making felony-level data available to the public  
  • Prioritizing the prosecution of violent crime and working to decriminalize poverty, mental health challenges, and substance abuse 
  • Lobbying for statewide criminal justice reforms  

Donyelle’s appointment is effective immediately.