Rehabilitative Services Division

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, along with our other partners within the criminal justice system, have multiple programs that fall under the umbrella of Rehabilitative Services. While rehabilitation has always been a component of a resolution to a criminal case, these programs are designed to prioritize rehabilitation and restoring the individual to a productive member of our community as part of resolving their criminal case. Each program is designed to take into consideration and address the issue or issues that have caused or contributed to their involvement in the criminal justice system. The goal of each of these programs is to not only decrease or eliminate the likelihood that the individual will reoffend, but also to provide the individual with the skills and resources necessary to succeed going forward.

Therapeutic Intensive Monitoring (T.I.M.) Courts:

The TIM Courts were established to assist individuals in the criminal justice system that either have a substance abuse disorder, a serious mental illness or are veterans of the United States military. Each of the different courts are set up to address the individual needs of its participants with a comprehensive, treatment-based approach. Whether a participant has an extensive, or a limited, history of being involved in the criminal justice system the goal of the TIM Courts is to identify and treat the root causes for that involvement with an individualized and comprehensive treatment and supervision plan in order to prevent future involvement in the criminal justice system. 

Drug Court:

In 2005, Lake County’s Drug Court was established to assist individuals with a long-standing substance abuse disorder that resulted in extensive involvement in the criminal justice system. It is a prison diversion program set up to address the root cause of the individual’s criminal behavior, substance abuse and addiction, in order to treat that disorder and prevent future involvement in the criminal justice system. 

Mental Health Court: 

In 2007, Lake County’s Mental Health Court was established to assist and treat individuals that find themselves in the criminal justice system as a result of a diagnosable, serious mental illness that has either caused or contributed to the behavior that resulted in their criminal charges.  Link to petition. 

Veteran’s Treatment Assistance Court (VTAC): 

In 2011, Lake County’s Veteran’s Court was established to assist those individuals in the criminal justice system that are either veterans or active members of the military. The goal of VTAC is not only to acknowledge the service provided by those individuals, but also to address the issues that are oftentimes a result of their service. Link to petition.

Supervised Treatment Opioid Program (STOP+): 

In 2017, Lake Couty implemented a Supervised Treatment Opioid Program (STOP) due to the significant number of individuals that were in the criminal justice system as a result of their addiction to opioids. And while opioid addiction remains a serious issue within Lake County, it has also become clear that a significant number of individuals find themselves in the criminal justice system as a result of their addiction to and/or abuse of other substances as well. In 2022, STOP+ was established to address that need. Individuals that enter STOP+ are identified as having high treatment needs as a result of their opioid or other substance abuse use disorder, but who do not qualify for Drug Court. 

DUI Diversion Program(DDP): 

In 2022, the DUI Diversion Program (DDP) was established to reduce the number of individuals being sentenced to the Illinois Department of Corrections as a result of a DUI offense. In the alternative, individuals who enter DDP will serve a community-based sentence that uses increased client monitoring, intensive treatment interventions and increased judicial interactions to address the individual’s alcohol and/or substance use disorder. 

Alternative Prosecution Program (APP):  

The State’s Attorney’s Office has both a felony and a misdemeanor Alternative Prosecution Program (APP). These programs offer those with little to no prior criminal history the opportunity to keep a conviction from being entered on their record. The programs give deserving individuals a chance to learn a valuable lesson, improve their lives and avoid the challenges associated with having a criminal conviction on their record. 

The goal of APP is to divert some defendants from the traditional course of prosecution if they accept responsibility for their actions and agree to improve themselves. Studies have shown that using diversion programs such as APP is a rehabilitation strategy that leads to the long-term reduction of crime.