Mental Health Policy & Advocacy

On any given day, between 25-30 percent of the individuals in custody at Cook County Jail suffer from mental illnesses. The majority of these individuals in custody are in jail for nonviolent offences closely associated with their mental health issues and would be far better served by treatment rather than incarceration.

The Office of Mental Health Policy and Advocacy leads Sheriff Dart’s comprehensive response to the criminalization of mentally ill individuals in Cook County.