Presiding Judge Paul Biebel Discusses Cook County Court Response to Drug and Mental Health Problems

(Chicago, IL) – Mental illness, post-traumatic stress, and drug problems are among the clinical issues that disproportionately affect criminal defendants in courtrooms across the country. On December 12, the Honorable Paul P. Biebel, Jr., presiding judge of the Criminal Court of Cook County, discussed the scope of these challenges. He also presented innovative court solutions that are being implemented with great success.

Judge Biebel offered his remarks at TASC’s Leadership Awards Luncheon at the Westin Michigan Avenue in Chicago, where he accepted the agency’s 2012 Justice Leadership Award.

This is the second of three posts on TASC’s annual event, which was highlighted by the words and wisdom of TASC’s 2012 honorees, Judge Paul Biebel and Christopher Kennedy Lawford.

TASC President Pamela Rodriguez introduced Judge Biebel, noting that he was one of the first judges in the country to support mental health courts not only for misdemeanants, but for non-violent felony offenders whose co-occurring mental health and addiction issues have led to their repeated arrests and re-incarceration. The Cook County Mental Health Court was launched in 2004 following early discussions between Judge Biebel, Judge Lawrence Fox, and TASC, followed by extensive planning and community engagement. It has demonstrated significant success in reducing recidivism among those whose health issues are the most challenging to treat.

“Judge Biebel supported felony mental health courts before anyone in the country,” Rodriguez said.  “He draws upon the strengths of partners and clinical experts and researchers, bringing individuals and organizations to the table who represent not only criminal justice interests, but also health, family, and community concerns.”

Judge Biebel accepted his award on behalf of the dedicated judges and court personnel who staff the 19 problem-solving courts in Cook County. Below are excerpts from his remarks, which began with appreciation for Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans, Christopher Kennedy Lawford, TASC, and all the assembled guests:

I am particularly honored to receive this award from TASC. They have been a critical partner to deal with drug and mental health issues in our courts.

I’d like to paint a picture of the challenges facing us in Chicago with regard to criminal justice, and most particularly with drug issues and mental health issues.

First, to put it in perspective, this is a massive operation we have here in Cook County, the largest unified court system in the world. I’m one of 420 judges, and one of 17 presiding judges. I have nearly 50 judges who work with me in the criminal division…

We have the largest and busiest criminal courthouse in the United States at 26^th and California. This year we expect to have more than 22,000 felony dispositions…

Let me give you some facts that I think will paint the picture.

FACT:  72% of those arrested or who check in to that county jail behind our building have some evidence of illegal drugs in their system.

FACT:  Nearly 100,000 people proceed through that jail system every year.

FACT:  The drug trade in Chicago now is entirely controlled by the street gangs.

FACT:  The Chicago police say there are nearly 100,000 gang members in Chicago. The only other town that would resemble that would be Los Angeles.

FACT:  The profits from the sale of drugs are enormous. It is estimated that in Chicago alone, in a given year, the profits from drugs exceed one billion dollars.

Is it no wonder that in the last six years in Mexico, some 60,000 people have been killed in fights among and between drug cartels? Is it in fact no wonder that the money that is being used to fight the Americans in Afghanistan comes from the sale of heroin in this country because the essential ingredient, poppies, is grown in Afghanistan?

FACT: The number of mentally ill in our jails and prisons in the United States is shockingly high. If you take a study of the American population, 4 to 6 percent of the American population has a chronic mental illness – a mental illness that requires psychotropic medication… I’m talking about something where you cannot live without your meds – bipolar disorder, clinical depression, schizoaffective disorder. In the jail and prison context, that number spikes to 16 to 20 percent – and I think that’s low.

In the County Jail, of the women who are there, 80 percent have a chronic mental illness. And what is it? Post-traumatic stress—because they have been sexually abused as girls or young women. And 80 percent of the women in that jail are the sole caretakers of their children. Look at the societal cost that is paid when they average four or five kids.

Shocking statistic: The three largest mental hospitals in America are in municipal jails. The largest is Los Angeles County Jail, the second is here in Chicago—the Cook County Jail—and third is Rikers Island Jail in New York.

Today, in Cook County Jail, there are over 1700 people on psychotropic medication, out of somewhere more than 9,000 people in the population of the jail.

And the statistic that really hits me between the eyes:

FACT:  If you get out of jail or prison today, there’s a 50 percent chance you’ll be back in three years.

We’re recycling people at a very expensive rate and a high cost in human terms.

These facts and figures indicate in stark fashion the challenges that we face in the criminal justice system. But in the in the last decade or so, we in Cook County have created perhaps the most ambitious and far-reaching problem-solving court system of any county in America… We’re very proud of that and we’re very grateful for our wonderful partners in that effort, and one of the most important being our friends at TASC. Thank you, Pam, and thank everybody from TASC.

Our effort in regard to these persons in these problem-solving courts is a human/humane issue. What we’re trying to do is give persons who are willing to try to break free from the ravages of drugs or mental illness, for whatever reason, a chance to do that. And courts have a unique ability in this regard since the alternative to coerced cleanliness is prison…  These courts of coercion—and that’s a word of specific usage—these courts of coercion work. And literally save lives. And greatly reduce recidivism.

The story of Christopher Kennedy Lawford is a story of courage, redemption, assistance from family… friends, and [support groups]. He has removed the 800-pound gorilla from his back but he didn’t do it alone. We hear those same, basic stories of success in our problem-solving courts.

We are blessed to be part of the success that we have experienced, a success of redemption, a success that touches our souls. Thank you for this wonderful award.

TASC President Pamela Rodriguez (left) and Board Chair Jim Durkan (right) present TASC’s 2012 Justice Leadership Award to the Honorable Paul P. Biebel, Jr.

Christopher Kennedy Lawford, Judge Paul Biebel Accept TASC Leadership Awards; Highlight Necessity of Drug Treatment, Mental Health Treatment, and Recovery Services

(Chicago, IL) – TASC’s 2012 Leadership Awards Luncheon honored two individuals whose remarks enthralled the room of more than 300 guests at the Westin Michigan Avenue in Chicago on December 12.

Cook County Presiding Judge Paul P. Biebel, Jr. and Christopher Kennedy Lawford accepted TASC’s 2012 leadership awards for their strong and persistent support of programs and policies that advance opportunities for health and recovery. This article is the first of three that will be posted this week, with coming posts featuring substantial portions of Judge Beibel’s and Chris Lawford’s informative and inspiring remarks.

TASC Board Chairman Jim Durkan opened TASC’s annual affair with appreciation for “individuals gathered from diverse backgrounds, occupations, and beliefs, coming together to celebrate the work of TASC and the wonderful reality of lasting and real recovery.”

Moving stories of recovery were shared in a video created for the event.  Raymond, a former TASC client who was incarcerated multiple times before finding recovery, said, “I have two sons that I had not seen during the horrors of my addiction. TASC helped me reunite with my sons.”

Another former client, Sara, spoke of the how an understanding of past trauma helped her on her path to recovery and a new life. “The things that I’ve done in my past don’t have to be the things that define me today,” she said.

Former client Victor added that going through TASC isn’t easy, but, “It’s not the end of the world. As a matter of fact, it’s the beginning of life.”

The successes of thousands of TASC clients across Illinois are made possible by the efforts of multiple individuals and entities in Illinois and nationally. TASC President Pamela Rodriguez thanked TASC’s many partners, from service providers to justice administrators to policymakers, along with the agency’s staff and board of directors. She offered express gratitude for TASC’s generous donors, including lead sponsors HAS (Healthcare Alternative Systems), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, and BMO Harris Bank.

Left to right: TASC VP and CFO Roy Fesmire; TASC VP of Operations Carolyn Ross; Christopher Kennedy Lawford; Judge Paul P. Biebel, Jr.; TASC President Pamela Rodriguez; TASC VP of Community and Government Affairs George Williams; TASC Executive VP and COO Peter Palanca

In presenting TASC’s Justice Leadership Award to Judge Biebel, Rodriguez explained that award recipients are men and women who fight for fairness, embrace new learning, create new partnerships, and lead change.

“I personally have known Judge Biebel for more than a decade,” she said, “and have seen first-hand the grace and care with which he administers the Criminal Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, the largest unified court system in the United States.

“He supported felony mental health courts before anyone else in the country… He commits himself to understanding neuroscience and the complex variables that contribute to addiction, mental illness, and criminal behavior, and he pursues science-based solutions that serve both public safety and public health. Most importantly, he demonstrates a genuine care for those who come through his courtrooms, and a commitment to fairness and rehabilitation as key elements of ensuring justice.”

Accepting TASC’s award, Judge Biebel offered statistics illustrating the magnitude of challenges that addiction, mental illness, and trauma place on the courts. For example, seven out of ten Cook County arrestees test positive for illicit drugs. In the Cook County Jail, among a population of around 9,000, there are more than 1,700 people on psychotropic medication. In response to these challenges, said Judge Biebel, “We in Cook County have created perhaps the most ambitious and far-reaching problem-solving court system of any county in America. We’re very proud of that and we’re very grateful for our wonderful partners in that effort, and one of the most important being our friends at TASC.”

Following a standing ovation to honor Judge Biebel, TASC Executive Vice President and COO Peter Palanca introduced Christopher Kennedy Lawford as TASC’s 2012 Public Voice Leadership Award recipient. “For change to happen anywhere people must speak up,” Palanca said. “This is particularly true regarding issues that often carry stigma—such as substance abuse, mental illness, racial injustice, discrimination, and criminal justice involvement.”

As the son of actor Peter Lawford and nephew of John F. Kennedy, Christopher Kennedy Lawford grew up in the public eye. With both a genetic predisposition to addiction and a childhood in which two of his beloved uncles were murdered, he eventually succumbed to his own addiction. But Lawford’s story doesn’t end there. He has been in recovery for more than 26 years, and now works in partnership with government, businesses, and social service organizations worldwide to expand access to addiction and mental health treatment and research, and to promote the positive power and reality of recovery.

“Drug dependence is destroying the very fabric of society, present and future,” Lawford said. “So why, given the tremendous need and availability of proven treatment protocols, do we continue to struggle with having treatment investments commensurate to their importance? We need to fundamentally see the issue of addiction through a different set of lenses. We need to see it devoid of stigma and discrimination. We need to see it as a health—and not just a criminal justice—issue.

“We need to reject the dichotomy of treatment versus enforcement, since we know that done right, the criminal justice and health systems can work together harmoniously. We’ve seen that here today with the work of Justice Biebel and TASC.”

Lawford shared his personal journey of trauma, addiction, and recovery. He emphasized the importance of reducing societal stigma and discrimination, which persist as barriers to effective diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.  Everyone in the room rose to applaud as Lawford accepted his award. The luncheon ended with TASC’s popular drawing for donated raffle prizes, and both Judge Biebel and Chris Lawford stayed long afterwards to speak with guests.

TASC offers sincere thanks to our gracious honorees, all our luncheon guests, our board of directors, staff, and our many donors for your very generous support of our work.  Please mark your calendars for our 2013 luncheon, which will take place in Chicago on December 11.

Why Systems Matter: Are They Helping or Hurting Communities?

The following column by TASC President Pamela Rodriguez appears in TASC’s Fall/Winter 2012 News & Views:

As a social work student at the University of Chicago 32 years ago, I learned that the way our society operates, and the means through which we create or deny opportunities to people, depends largely on our systems.

“Systems” is one of those bureaucratic terms used in grad school.  And yet, we must understand them as essential to the creation of a fair and just society, where all people have opportunities for education, health, and equal justice under the law.

Without clear oversight and analysis of trends and consequences, systems may grow to the point of over-reach. Drug policies in the U.S. have fertilized the growth of the criminal justice system for the past 30 years.

From mandatory minimum sentences to funding that favors incarceration over rehabilitation, our society pours more and more people into courtrooms, jails, and prisons in this country than any other country in the world.

These costly trends not only tear apart families and communities, but they break states’ budgets as well.  According to data from the National Association of State Budget Officers and reported by the Pew Center, states increased their collective spending on corrections by 315% between 1987 and 2007. Adjusted to 2007 dollars, state corrections costs rose 127% while spending on higher education increased only 21 percent in the same period.

These incarceration trends do not need to continue. We can change our systems.

What was true three decades ago—my lessons from grad school—was the notion that government was the sole keeper of our systems.  Today, there is greater attention on public-private partnerships, whether the topic is education, health care, or criminal justice. Exactly whether and how these partnerships will improve our public systems—and improve outcomes for the people at the heart of these systems—remains to be seen and is a debate for another day.  But what we know right now is that we cannot allow the profit interests of the private sector, nor the self-perpetuating nature of large public systems, to dictate the parameters of justice in our country.

When private interests involve profit, or when partners within the system seek unlimited growth, the notions of justice will tilt.

Justice is not about growth. It is not about profit. It is about ensuring the fair and appropriate dispensation of sanctions to carry out public safety.

TASC is engaged in a number of projects and initiatives to inform and improve sound systems.  For instance, we staffed the Disproportionate Justice Impact Study (DJIS) Commission, which pointed out racial and ethnic inequities in the application of state drug laws. As a follow-up to DJIS Commission recommendations, we staffed the Racial and Ethnic Impact Research Task Force, which focused on improved data collection methods to inform fair justice processes.

In partnership with the National Judicial College, we are leading the Justice Leaders Systems Change Initiative, through which we train jurisdictions across the country on science-based responses to addiction-driven crime. Through a grant from The Chicago Community Trust, and under the leadership of Judge Paul P. Biebel, Jr., we are facilitating a structured planning process to improve health care access for people under justice supervision in Cook County.

As we work to change and improve systems, we are guided by our core values. The principles of fairness and justice have not changed in my 32 years in social service, and they continue to guide us at TASC.

We care about fairness. We care about opportunity. And to our core, we care about the people affected by systems, and whether those systems are hurting or helping people and communities. With your support and partnership, we will continue to strive for community health and public safety achieved by means other than the over-expansion of correctional systems.  These are the lessons we live by.

To read TASC’s Fall/Winter 2012 News & Views, please click here.

TASC President Pamela Rodriguez Receives BSU Outstanding Alumni Award

(Chicago, IL) – TASC President Pamela Rodriguez has been honored as an outstanding alumna of Bemidji State University (BSU). Ms. Rodriguez accepted BSU’s 2012 Outstanding Alumni Award during halftime of the university’s homecoming football game on Saturday, September 29.

Ms. Rodriguez graduated from BSU in 1978 with a degree in social work. She began working in juvenile justice at the Hennepin County Home near Minneapolis, and two years later enrolled at the University of Chicago, where she earned her M.A. in social service administration.

In 1982, she joined TASC (Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities), a statewide criminal justice advocacy and service organization in Illinois. Founded in 1976, TASC advocates at state and federal levels for supervised drug treatment as an alternative to incarceration for nonviolent offenders. Ms. Rodriguez began as a grant writer and was promoted successively to direct nearly every aspect of the agency. She became the organization’s president in 2009, overseeing a $20 million budget and more than 300 staff in 12 regional offices across Illinois.

A leader in connecting research, practice, and public policy, Ms. Rodriguez has championed state and federal efforts to reduce racial disproportionality in drug laws and sentencing. In 2007, Ms. Rodriguez was one of nine juvenile justice experts named to the Federal Coordinating Council on Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, an independent organization in the U.S. executive branch that coordinates all federal juvenile delinquency prevention and detention programs.

Bemidji State University Outstanding Alumni recipients are nominated by alumni, faculty, and staff and are selected by the Alumni Association Board of Directors for distinguished and professional achievement.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle: Bond Court Changes Will Save Taxpayer Dollars

(Chicago, IL) –  Under a new proposal by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, the county could save on jail expenses by lowering the bail amounts for low-level, nonviolent defendants who are too poor to post bond.  Instead of incarcerating these pretrial detainees at $143 per person per day, the county could place them on electronic monitoring, thus maintaining public safety while saving taxpayer dollars.

The jail is currently crowded with 9,400 men and women. About 900 current pre-trial detainees charged with low-level, nonviolent offenses would qualify for the reduced bail under President Preckwinkle’s proposal.

Pamela Rodriguez, president of TASC (Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities), and Diane Williams, president of the Safer Foundation, championed the proposed changes to the bond process in a letter to the editor published by the Chicago Tribune on July 17.

Association Recognizes Senator Dick Durbin, Congressman Danny Davis, and IL Senators Mattie Hunter and Kwame Raoul for Racial Justice Efforts

(Chicago, IL) –The Illinois Association for Criminal Justice (IACJ) presented awards on March 18 to U.S. Senator Dick Durbin, Congressman Danny K. Davis and Illinois State Senators Mattie Hunter and Kwame Raoul for legislative leadership in criminal justice policy.

Left to right: Illinois State Senator Kwame Raoul; IACJ Chair Diane Williams; Clarisol Duque on behalf of U.S. Senator Dick Durbin; Congressman Danny Davis; Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter; IACJ Vice-Chair Pamela Rodriguez. Photo by David Ormsby.

The association’s inaugural event, held at the Safer Foundation in Chicago, featured a room filled to capacity with audience members who lauded legislators for their commitment and sponsorship of key legislation to advance fairness in the justice system.

The association recognized Senator Durbin for authoring the Fair Sentencing Act, which was signed into law in 2010 and reduces the sentencing disparity in the mandatory penalties for possession of crack versus powder cocaine.

IACJ awarded Congressman Davis for sponsoring the Second Chance Act, which provides federal seed grants for programs that assist individuals released from prison to successfully reenter society

Senators Hunter and Raoul also received the group’s recognition for state legislative drug crime reform efforts in Springfield. Hunter successfully sponsored the Illinois Disproportionate Justice Impact Study Commission law that addresses racial disparities in justice system’s response to drug crimes.

Raoul won approval for Illinois Crime Reduction Act, a measure that invests in community-based solutions to non-violent, drug-related crime.

“At the heart of our mission, our goals are to advance criminal justice reforms that guarantee equality for all under the law, create safer communities, and reduce the financial burden of expensive and unnecessary incarceration on taxpayers,” said IACJ President Diane Williams. “Congressman Davis and Senators Durbin, Hunter and Raoul embody those goals.”

“Our mission is to ensure that services and public policies are in place that will reduce crime and restore individuals to stability and productivity in their communities,” said Pamela Rodriguez, president of TASC (Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities). “We’re here today because it’s vital to recognize legislative leaders when they take courageous stands in matters of fiscal responsibility and social justice. We care about these issues, we understand the impact of public policy in our communities, and we’re paying attention to what happens in Springfield and Washington.”

Founded in 2010, the mission of the Illinois Association for Criminal Justice (IACJ) is to ensure quality, comprehensive and coordinated services for people with criminal histories through the education of the public, advocacy, and community capacity building. TASC and the Safer Foundation are founding member organizations of IACJ.