Press and News
Governor Quinn Signs Bill to Protect Pregnant Inmates
Sat, 01/14/2012 - 10:41am | 
gail
We are thrilled to report that Governor Quinn signed into law the bill protecting pregnant women against shackling while in Cook County custody. We applaud Governor Quinn and the bill’s lead sponsors, Representative Robyn Gabel and Senator Toi Hutchinson. We thank our 40 coalition partners who worked so hard to pass the bill, especially Mary Dixon and Khadine Bennett of the ACLU of Illinois. We especially thank the courageous, generous women who gave testimony so that mothers will no longer suffer the violations and pain that they survived when they gave birth while in correctional custody.
Thinking of Moms and Kids at the Holidays
Wed, 12/21/2011 - 6:43pm | gail
One of the hardest things for young kids is not having their mom there on Christmas morning. Until the day when we win the battle against prison sentences for nonviolent offenses, and a policy of keeping families together, it's nice to see this story by the Chicago Tribune's Bonnie Miller Rubin.
HB 1958 protecting pregnant women passed the Illinois Senate!
Tue, 11/29/2011 - 4:15pm | gail
On November 29, 2011 House Bill 1958 passed the Illinois Senate by a vote of 44 to 10! Many thanks to everyone who has worked so hard to pass this bill!
Stop Shackling Pregnant Women
Mon, 11/28/2011 - 3:40pm | gail
"He gave my father back to me." David Lewis, rest in peace.
Thu, 07/01/2010 - 4:32pm | gail
"He gave my father back to me." This is the first thing Emani Davis told me about David Lewis when she suggested that we invite him as a keynote speaker for our 2005 gathering "Children of Prisoners, Children of Promise". Emani’s dad had been incarcerated since she was six. She never gave up on him, but under David’s teaching her father’s perspective and capacities grew dramatically, and her relationship with her dad blossomed.
Jazz Benefit
Mon, 02/08/2010 - 10:52am | GNelson
Friday, April 9 at 6:00 pm
Bottom Lounge
Dee Alexander
& her band
~
Laura Washington, Emcee
Delicious Buffet ~ Desserts
Cash Bar
IDOC Director supports ban on shackling pregnant inmates.
Thu, 12/15/2011 - 6:17pm | gail
Congratulations to the 2011 Honorees!
Mon, 10/10/2011 - 2:01pm | gail
At our recent Jazz Benefit, CLAIM’s Board President, Drea Hall, led the program as we honored the some of people who have made CLAIM’s work possible in the past year.
Stop Shackling Pregnant Prisoners
Tue, 09/06/2011 - 9:49am | gail
There is a great new article by Alex Berg in the Daily Beast on shackling and national trends here.
Volunteer Training and the New Probate Act Amendment
Tue, 05/03/2011 - 9:26am | Anna
CLAIM is offering two training sessions for volunteers this June. On June 4 at 10:00 a.m. we will present our comprehensive five-hour training for Family Law Clinic volunteers. The session teaches skills for interviewing and maintaining confidentiality in the jail setting, as well as short-term and court-ordered guardianship, custody, divorce, visitation, foster care and termination of parental rights. On June 8 at 5:30 p.m. we will present a session on representing clients in contested minor guardianship cases, with a focus on discharge of guardians. Both sessions will provide MCLE credits.
Current Size: 100%
- More than 16,000 women go to jail annually in Cook County Jail and about 82% are mothers.
- About 80% of women detained at Cook County Jail are charged with non-violent crimes and only 1.8% of the 3,100 women admitted to Illinois prisons in 2009 were classified as a high security risk.
Because children need their mothers.
