Womens Justice Services
In 1996, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office began to focus on female offenders at the Cook County Jail due to a 92% increase in the population. The U.S. Department of Justice/National Institute of Corrections provided technical assistance to help the policy makers in Cook County better understand what was driving this increase and provide direction from national experts to help create appropriate programs and services.At the same time, Northwestern University was conducting a study of women involved in the criminal justice system. This research gave us a look at the profile of women offenders, why they were involved in the criminal justice system, and what needs and risks separated them from their male counterparts. This nationally recognized study was the first of its kind and was conducted at the Cook County Jail.
The characteristics of Women Offenders in Cook County are as follows:
- 80% are single mothers with 3 or more children.
- 80% have been charged with non-violent offenses; (i.e. shoplifting, larceny, passing bad checks, drug sales/possession, prostitution)
- 75-90% of the women are addicted to drugs or alcohol. -Women frequently commit crimes to sustain their drug addictions.
- 80% have been physically or sexually abused.
- 80% suffer from the co-occurrence of addiction, mental health disorders and trauma.
Women enter jails with poor health and experience more serious health problems due to poverty, poor nutrition, inadequate health care, and substance abuse.
An increase of 69% since 1991 in women testing positive for HIV.
Women offenders are at greater risk for breast, lung, and cervical cancer.
55% of women in jails have a high school diploma.
Jobs are low skill, entry level, low paying – 2/3 of women offenders report they never held a job paying more than $6.50 per hour.
The pathways to criminality for women are: physical and sexual abuse, poverty and substance abuse. These issues, made it clear that a separate department focusing solely on women offenders was needed. In December 1999, the Department of Women’s Justice Services was created. Funding was supported by the Cook County Board, which allowed 25% of the jail’s female population to begin receiving gender responsive treatment and services.
The three programs under the Department of Women’s Justice Services are as follows:
MOM’s Program: An off-site 16-bed community based program designed for pregnant and/or postpartum offenders and their preschool age children.
Women’s Residential Program (WRP): Residential treatment program utilizing the integrated model of treatment in a modified therapeutic community setting within the Cook County Jail.
Sheriff’s Female Furlough Program (SFFP): (female day reporting program) The participants report to the program daily for treatment and case management services and return to their homes each evening tethered to an electronic monitoring device in order to care for their families.
The Department of Women’s Justice Services utilizes an integrated model that addresses substance abuse, mental health and physical health issues. Two pre-screens have been implemented at program intake, a Needs Checklist and the Brief Jail Mental Health Screen (BJMHS). These screens assist counselors and the mental health team in expediting the identification of immediate needs allowing them to prepare for their initial meeting with the new participant. The GAIN (Global Appraisal of Individual Needs) assessment is used for treatment planning and a detailed case manager needs assessment is used to expedite community linkages and begin discharge planning. The Mental Health Team utilizes multiple assessments to identify the participants’ mental health needs. These assessments include: SCID (Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV disorders), Beck’s Depression Inventory, STAI Anxiety Inventory, and the Trauma Symptom Checklist. The integrated model also incorporates supportive services such as; GED/literacy, job training/placement, life skills, anger management, parenting, childcare, housing, family reunification, and spirituality. This model was developed to understand the many complex issues impacting women’s functioning and substance use. The integrated model creates a safe, supportive treatment environment.
The Cook County Jail’s female population has continued to grow at alarming rates. In 1996 there were 12,079 women booked into the Cook County Jail and in 2004 this number increased to 16,259. Last year, the Cook County Jail population had a decrease in the female population. This downward trend can be attributed to the increase in Women participating in DWJS programs.
In October 2004, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine was awarded a 2-year exploratory grant from the National Institute of Health-NIDA. This award fosters an innovative collaboration between DWJS, Chicago Department of Public Health, and Northwestern University- Feinberg School of Medicine. The research promises to scientifically validate the DWJS integrated model of treatment for women offenders. Overall, as a result of participating in DWJS programs and the NIDA study, the majority of women show significant:
- reductions in state-trait anxiety
- reductions in symptoms of trauma & abuse
- improvements in knowledge about HIV and related risk behaviors
Data analyses are currently underway; preliminary results suggest that DWJS programs also improved outcomes among women related to:
- depression
- psychiatric symptoms
- feelings of empowerment
The DWJS mental health program, Safety and Empowerment, has shown to lower depressive symptoms, levels of anxiety, and trauma symptoms.
According to a 2004 National Institute of Justice study, 58% of incarcerated women will recidivate within three years and 39% will recidivate within one year. However, this study clearly indicates that providing an integrated model with components that focus on substance abuse/mental health/physical health treatment, education and job training/placement will reduce the likelihood of future criminal activity. Additional National Institute of Justice research indicates offenders that are clean and sober and involved in an ex-offender support organization and community activities are less likely to recidivate. Since the inception of DWJS we have offered a treatment model that includes those necessary components for success.
DWJS has also contracted with two women who have successfully completed DWJS Programs to work as Peer Coordinators. Their responsibilities include: coordination and leadership of the Women of Power Alumni Association, (www.WomenOfPowerAA.org) mentoring DWJS participants, facilitation of self-help groups and assisting in community activities to benefit/stabilize participants and their families to ensure successful re-entry into the community.
In addition, the Women of Power Alumni Association and Support Group (WoPAA, Inc.) is a non-profit group of formerly incarcerated and incarcerated females who support each other in the attainment of successful transition from DWJS. WoPAA, Inc. members are working toward self-sufficiency through collaborative efforts with support from DWJS staff. WoPAA, Inc. (incorporated Jan. 2006 and attaining 501(c)3 status in August of 2006) currently has a membership body consisting of 300 formerly incarcerated women. They host weekly meetings offering a safe place where women ex-offenders can talk frankly about the struggles faced in maintaining recovery and moving forward after any type of incarceration. WoPAA envisions finding concrete mechanisms that include having an active role in establishing safe supportive environments as women reintegrate into the community.
Incarcerated women, recidivism and the impact on future generations are of the utmost concern to the Sheriff’s Department of Women’s Justice Services. Following a careful review of our program data, it is quite evident that DWJS is heading down the right path to improving outcomes for women offenders in Cook County.
Cook County Sheriff's Office
Department of Women's Justice Services
Sheriff Thomas J. Dart
Executive Director Terrie L. McDermott
3026 South California Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60608
773-869-7731
Fax: 773-869-5441
dwjs@cookcountysheriff.org
