Community Responses to Mental Health Crises in Youth

The Cook County states attorneys office will launch a new pilot program offering an alternative to jail for teenage boys from Chicago's West Side accused of serious crimes. The Cook County Board of Commissioners approved one million dollars in funding for this initiative, which aims to provide academic and after-school support services to teens who might otherwise be incarcerated while awaiting trial.

States Attorney Eileen O'Neill Burke emphasized the need for young people to have structure, activities, and a caring community, stating that this program builds on that foundation. Set to launch in early 2026, the program will focus on boys aged 13 to 17 from the Lawndale and Little Village neighborhoods, known for their long-standing issues with crime.

Participants will be required to stay in school and will receive 20 hours of wraparound after-school services focused on addressing untreated traumas. Yvette Loizon, chief of policy for the prosecutors office, mentioned that children do not thrive in carceral environments and highlighted the program's goal of breaking the cycle of crime.

The services will include cognitive behavioral therapy, tutoring, and mentoring, provided by New Life Centers in Little Village and the Firehouse Community Arts Center in Lawndale. The program will not be available for those accused of murder, attempted murder, criminal sexual assault, aggravated battery with a firearm, or for teens already on electronic monitoring.

Loizon noted that the program is not diversionary; charges will not be dropped upon completion, and cases will be monitored by Judge Beatriz Frausto-Sandoval. Avik Das, executive director of the Cook County Justice Advisory Council, expressed hope that this program could serve as a model for the county if it effectively reduces serious offenses among youth.