Cook County's criminal justice system is chronically overcrowded, as thousands of non-violent offenders clog the county's courts and jail. This overcrowding compromises the safety of Cook County residents, as the Department of Corrections has fewer resources to devote to prosecuting and incarcerating career criminals. As Cook County Board President, Toni will expand programs that not only serve as alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders, but also provide treatment for addiction, educational classes, and life skills training, which will reduce recidivism making our county safer. Some specific actions Toni will take as Board President include:
- Expand the State's Attorney's Drug Abuse Program, RAP Drug School and the Cook County Drug Courts. As current demand for these services exceeds their capacity, their expansion will unclog the county's courts and free up resources that will enable the State's Attorney to focus on prosecution of violent criminals.
- Coordinate an effort with the county's judges, the State's Attorney, the Public Defender, and the Sheriff's Office to formulate new sentencing guidelines for non-violent offenders.
- Augment programs such as Cook County's Electronic Monitoring Program, Cook County Boot Camp, and the Sheriff's Female Furlough Program that offer alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders. These programs additionally provide drug treatment, counseling, and educational instruction, which decrease the rate of recidivism.