Public Safety

Diversion and Deferral Opportunities
November 22, 2011

One of the most important opportunities for diversion at the County is for non-violent incarcerated women, especially the mothers of minor children. The children of incarcerated parents are often the forgotten victims when a woman cannot post bond and ends up in Cook County Jail. Of the nearly 1,000 women in our County jail, the majority are mothers and were living with their children at the time of arrest. It's vital to insure these children get the support they need, especially at school.

Below is a presentation that I have developed that addresses how some of these changes can be implemented. We need to improve the pre-trial interview process, front load treatment and services before the detainee goes to jail while also devising an appropriate exchange of custodial parent information between the County Jail and Chicago Public Schools. For those mothers who do end up in jail, keeping them connected with their children through video messages, Skype, and regular communication between the school and the incarcerated parent improves their post-jail outcomes. At the end of the day, we need to remember the children who are separated from their parents and how we can keep parent and child connected.

Opportunities For Diversion and Deferral.pdf