With escalating violence, corruption, and debauchery spreading throughout the city, Chicago's officials were not only tasked with the duty of apprehending those responsible, but also redeeming the city from the notoriety that it had become so negatively associated with.

A good example that illustrates the extent of the city's infamy can be seen in the article "Cowardly Chicago", which was published in 1930 by the Tulsa Tribune. It describes Chicago as “The sickest city in America … [It] isn’t big enough to arrest and protect Chicago’s own society from the vicious operations of one little Al Capone. Chicago collectively is a municipal coward that no longer deserves respect of a civilized world.” Al Capone had caused immeasurable damage to the city, and consequently ruined Chicago's reputation. Considering this, the Cook County Courthouse was not only constructed to compensate for the city's increasing crimes, but to also give the city chance to re-establish its identity and improve its image from international infamy. And as a result in striving for this goal, much of the inspiration for the building's design was taken from classical sources – in particular, Ancient Rome.

Sources:

Geraghty, Thomas F. "Cook County Criminal Law Practice in 1929: A Community's Response to Crime and a Notorious Trial." Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology 2nd ser. 92.3 (2002): Northwestern University, Apr. 2002. Web.

Hall, Eric E. "Cook County's Criminal Court and Jail in the Making." The Western Architect 38.9 (1929): 155. Google. The Western Architect Publishing Company, 30 Oct. 2009. Web.

Hammett, Ralph W., A.I.A. "The New Cook County Criminal Court and Jail Buildings.” The Western Architect 38.9 (1929): 156-158. Google. The Western Architect Publishing Company, 30 Oct. 2009. Web.

“National Affairs: Cowardly Chicago.” Time Magazine, 5 May 1930.