Chief Judge Evans announces new enrichment programming for Juvenile Temporary Detention Center residents
Released On 04/14/2023
Circuit Court of Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans announced on Friday that enriched evening programming for Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (JTDC) residents will begin on Monday, April 17.
The programming is a result of recommendations by the Circuit Court of Cook County Blue Ribbon Committee (BRC), designed to best help youth in detention. Following the BRC’s report, Chief Judge Evans formed an Implementation Committee in August 2022 to carry out the report’s recommendations. Provided by psychologists, the new programming is intended to promote emotional and cognitive growth, and to give residents something constructive to do between supper and bedtime.
“We want our young people in JTDC detention to have the best possible care while they are with us, to help them become productive citizens,” said Judge Evans.
Starting on Monday evening, Dr. Obari Cartman, a nationally known expert on the mental health and cultural identity of young Black men, will provide programming for young men from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Dr. Kisha Roberts Tabb, already offering services for young women at JTDC, and Dr. Keeshawna Brooks, an expert in youth psychology, will provide appropriate programming for young women during the same time period.
Programming for young men will include yoga and capoeira, as well as classes on social and emotional wellness rooted in cognitive behavioral techniques, according to Dr. Miquel Lewis, acting director of the Juvenile Probation Department and a member of the Implementation Committee.
“It’s a manhood preparation type of curriculum to coach up the young men on many aspects of self-identity, self-respect and civic engagement,” Dr. Lewis said. “Ultimately, it’s about behavior change.”
Young women will have programming that includes physical fitness, social and emotional wellness, and building healthy relationships, all grounded in cognitive behavioral techniques, Dr. Lewis said.
He added that all programs are being implemented through close cooperation with JTDC staff.
The Boys and Girls Club of America’s Chicago branch has agreed to offer additional services at the JTDC, said Bryan Samuels, Executive Director of Chapin Hall and a member of the Implementation Committee. Samuels noted that the Boys and Girls Club has already worked with JTDC, and is providing its own funding. Programming will include sports and teaching young people to budget and save money.
“We’ve got a good starting place and plan for operations,” Samuels said.
Bedtime for all JTDC residents will be 9:45 p.m., so the curricula will still allow residents time to prepare for bed and to have phone calls with family. This new programming changes previous JTDC practice of requiring earlier bedtimes for many residents, and will thus reduce the amount of room confinement time.
Members of the Implementation Committee are led by Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago, including Samuels, Dr. Gretchen Cusick, Dr. Clinton Boyd, Jr., Dr. Jasmine Olivier, and Alyssa Broxton. Chapin Hall is a policy research center dedicated to improving the lives of children, families, and communities.
Also on the committee are Dr. Lewis, Dr. Beverly Butler, Dr. Tom Lyons, and Attorney Camela Gardner, all from the Office of the Chief Judge.
The new programming is part of the Office of the Chief Judge’s response to recommendations by the Blue Ribbon Committee to remove JTDC residents from unnecessary isolation, and find ways to further implement trauma-informed care for youth that enhances their rehabilitation and re-entry capabilities.
The Implementation Committee and the Office of the Chief Judge are also working toward replacing the JTDC’s current, large physical structure with smaller, community-based facilities with specialized programs.
Chief Judge Evans reconvened the BRC in the spring of 2021 to examine procedures at the JTDC and figure out what is being done right and what can be done better. In addition, Chief Judge Evans asked the BRC to identify best practices of other juvenile justice systems and detention centers that could serve as models for Cook County’s JTDC.
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