Chicago gangs essentially run the city's Cook County Jail and the only "perk" is that you can smoke cigarettes, according to a recent two-star review by "Frank G" on Yelp.
What, you thought Yelp reviews were only for restaurants and coffee shops? Any more than two stars and you'd have to ask just how much of a punishment prison really is.
Of course, the real goal of incarceration should be as much about rehabilitation as it is punishment. So many petty criminals lead a life of serious crime after taking notes and making connections in the Big House.
So it's inspiring to read about innovative programs that empower inmates while reducing recidivism.
Take, for example, Cook County Jail's 13,000 square-foot organic vegetable garden (Chicago Garden), which coordinator Mike Taff claims reduced recidivism by 17 percent (the national average is 54 percent).
The Cook County Sheriff's Garden, as it's called, has been up and running ever since 1993. Kenneth H. Trebilco, director of the jail's Pre-release Center, had this to say about the program:
"Putting in seeds and watching them grow; you can see the gang 'thugness' goes away, along with the stress of being incarcerated."
The program, like all gardens, required some upfront expenditures but is expected to pay for itself real soon. Vegetables currently are donated to local food pantries--which means it doesn't replace the usual prison slop--and Chicago restaurateurs have shown interest in buying up the bounty.
What does this have to do with DUI law?
Good question. Since it's probably not a good idea to give rakes and shovels to violent offenders, the gardening program is limited to nonviolent inmates, primarily those convicted on drug or DUI charges.
Most people who end up in jail for a DUI, it could be argued, need help overcoming some form of addiction. What better way to end the cycle of self-destructive behavior, make offenders feel a part of something bigger, inspire a sense of nurturing and give them valuable life skills?
- Cook County Sheriff's Garden (official blog, with links to similar programs in other prisons/jails, University of Illinois Extension)
- Rehab program gives purpose instead of prison (St. Petersburg Times)
- Chicago DUI Law Firms (FindLaw)
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