Cook County Sheriff Hiring Discrimination Settlement
Black men and women who applied for a correctional officer job at the Cook County jail after March 13, 2015 and weren't hired because they failed one of the sheriff's screening tests may be eligible for a cash payment of up to $10,000 from a $5.675 million class action settlement. The lawsuit Simpson v. Dart alleged that three pre-employment tests used by the Cook County Sheriff's Merit Board had a disparate impact on Black applicants, screening them out at a disproportionate rate in violation of federal civil rights law. To file you will need the CPT ID and passcode from the notice you received. The deadline is August 5, 2026.
Do I Qualify?
You qualify if you identify as Black, applied for a Cook County correctional officer position at Cook County jail after March 13, 2015, and were not hired because you failed the NCJOSI2 first written test, the SBSA-LEO second written test, or the physical abilities test. You should have received a notice from CPT Group Inc. with a CPT ID and passcode. If you believe you qualify but did not receive a notice call 1-888-439-0284.
File your claim at SimpsonCookCountySettlement.com before August 5, 2026. You will need your CPT ID and passcode.
File Your Claim →What Happened?
Filed in 2018 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Case No. 1:18-cv-00553, the lawsuit alleged the Cook County Sheriff's Merit Board used three screening tests — the NCJOSI2 first written test, the SBSA-LEO second written test, and a physical abilities test — to evaluate correctional officer applicants. These tests allegedly disproportionately excluded Black applicants without being sufficiently job-related, violating Title VII of the Civil Rights Act and 42 U.S.C. §1983. The parties reached a $5.675 million settlement. Beyond cash, the settlement also establishes a revised hiring pathway allowing class members to re-apply under a modified testing procedure. Cook County denies all allegations.
How to File Your Claim
- Locate your notice from CPT Group Inc. containing your CPT ID and passcode — both required
- Visit SimpsonCookCountySettlement.com and click Submit Claim
- Log in with your CPT ID and passcode and complete the online claim form
- Optional: also submit the Job Application Form on the same site if you want to re-apply for a correctional officer position under the revised hiring process
- File or postmark a mailed paper form by August 5, 2026
- If you cannot find your CPT ID call 1-888-439-0284
How Much Will I Actually Get?
After attorneys fees of approximately one-third and service awards, approximately $3.4 million is available for distribution, divided equally among all valid claimants up to a cap of $10,000 per person. Class members may also re-apply for the correctional officer position under a revised hiring process that removes the challenged tests.
Last reviewed: July 2, 2026 | Information verified from court records and official settlement documents.