Welcome to CLAIM
Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers (CLAIM) provides legal and educational services to maintain the bond between imprisoned mothers and their children.
CLAIM advocates for policies and programs that benefit families of imprisoned mothers and reduce incarceration of women and girls. (Read more)
8th Circuit Court of Appeals holds shackling woman during labor unconstitutional Sat, 10/24/2009 - 7:08pm |  gail
On October 2, 2009 the federal Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals found that shackling a woman to her hospital bed during labor is cruel and unusual punishment, and unconstitutional under the Eighth Amendment. CLAIM was among 34 advocacy groups nationwide that submitted an amicus brief in the case. You can read the en banc decision in the case here. |
Hearing on Children of the Incarcerated Fri, 09/25/2009 - 11:33am | elizabeth
On Friday, September 18, the Illinois House of Representatives Youth and Family Committee held a hearing on children of incarcerated parents. The hearing was the culmination of months of hard work by Advocacy Coordinator Darlene Horton in partnership with a coalition convened by the Community Renewal Society. |
Over two million children across the U.S. have a parent in jail or prison. Just as bright, loving, and deserving as any other children, their mothers' incarceration can leave them feeling frightened, confused, angry and alone. A gift to CLAIM means that more of these children will stay in contact with their mothers and will know the unconditional love and support that only a mother can give.
Because children need their mothers.
Current Size: 100%
- Approximately 80% of the 16,239 women in Chicago’s Cook County Jail in 2004 were mothers.
- About 80% of women detained at Cook County Jail are charged with non-violent crimes.
Make a difference in the lives of women and children across Illinois.