CENTERING OUR CHILDREN: Preliminary Insights into the Hidden Toll of Pretrial Incarceration on Families in Cook County, Illinois
The Cook County Justice Advisory Council and Erikson Institute partnered to understand how many caregivers, in custody or detained at Cook County Jail, have children who will need resources and supports in their absence and how to best connect with the temporary/emergency caregivers designated to care for their children. This specific group of children is often “invisible” in our systems and is not adequately identified, assessed, or supported with services. Children with caregivers in the criminal legal system often face multiple disruptions, which include care, housing, and sometimes school arrangements, stigmatization or bullying by peers, financial hardship, and psychological distress. Erikson, a recognized leader in infant and child development and family support, worked in conjunction with the Cook County Public Defender’s Office to analyze data of caregivers detained in Cook County Jail