Chicago, Illinois

Overview

The Rehabilitative Alternative Probation (RAP) and Women’s Rehabilitative Alternative Probation (WRAP) are adult drug court programs serving the First District in Cook County, Illinois. By offering wraparound services instead of sentences, participants are given the opportunity to focus on their recovery, and as a result, reduce recidivism. The (W)RAP programs are post-adjudicatory programs targeting high-risk/high-need individuals charged with repeat felony nonviolent offenses. They have the capacity to serve up to 160 participants.

Admission and Target Population

(W)RAP referrals are preliminarily screened by the assistant state’s attorney and then reviewed as a team during staffing. If the referral meets the criminal requirements, the referred individual is screened and assessed by the assistant public defender to gauge interest, the case manager to gauge clinical eligibility, and the probation officer to assess risk. The target population of (W)RAP is individuals charged with nonviolent felony offenses who have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder. To be accepted, an individual must be assessed as high risk and high need, be diagnosed with a substance use disorder, and have accepted that they struggle with substance use. They must also be willing to engage and comply with the requirements of the program.

Upon acceptance, the individual enters a guilty plea and is sentenced to two years of (W)RAP. Participants then begin treatment and accessing services provided by community partners and funded by (W)RAP grants.

Program Structure

The (W)RAP team meets for staffing four days a week, followed by the (W)RAP court call. Men appear in court Monday through Wednesday, and women appear in court on Friday. Because of the frequency of staffing and court hearings, participants develop a strong rapport with the team and judge, which promotes honesty and commitment.

The team is composed of the judge, assistant state’s attorneys, an assistant public defender, probation officers, case managers, a law enforcement liaison, and a program coordinator. Through this multidisciplinary team, each participant’s needs are assessed from various fields of expertise. Over the course of this two-year program, participants may access support services such as recovery homes, medication for addiction treatment, and assistance finding a sponsor or 12-step meetings, employment, and/or subsidized housing.

There are four phases of the (W)RAP programs, each with goals and requirements that prepare the participant to transition to the next phase and complete the program. The participant’s probation officer may recommend phase movement, and the team must agree. All four phases must be completed to graduate.