Transcript Felony Prostitution Court: WINGS and Feathers

Felony Prostitution Court:
WINGS and Feathers
Judge Rosemary Grant Higgins
Background
• An order issued January 2011 by Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans
and Presiding Judge of the Criminal Division Paul P. Biebel, Jr.
established the WINGS court and assigned all felony prostitution
cases to Judge Rosemary Grant Higgins.
• The WINGS court was developed in response to a community
based initiative led by The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless’s
Prostitution Alternatives Roundtable (PART) and other social
service providers.
o See handout for list of contributing providers.
• Court received Judicial Excellence Award from PART Roundtable
in January 2012.
Goal of the WINGS court
• To offer a rehabilitative resource for women charged
with felony prostitution to develop emotional,
psychological, educational, and job alternatives to the
commercial sex trade.
Program Protocol
• 2 years of POWER Probation
o Often beginning with treatment in the Sheriff’s
Women’s Justice Program or private treatment
programs
o Monitored by TASC and/or POWER Probation Case
Management
5 Core Requirements
1. Alcohol and Drug Treatment
• In-patient and out-patient
• AA/NA
2. Trauma Informed Counseling
• Change from “What’s wrong with you?” to “What happened
to you?”
3. Survivor Mentorship
• PA
4. G.E.D./H.S. Diploma/Other Educational or Job Training
5. Employment
Ancillary Services
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Rape Survivor Advocacy
Family Re-Unification & Legal Services
Health Care
Housing
o Short term/long term
Feathers
• “Building WINGS one feather at a time”
Courtroom Protocol
• Courtroom 206, 2600 S. California Avenue
• Court begins at 9:30 a.m.
• In-custody participants sit in the jury box to observe
the participants out on bond.
• Court room staffing
Steering Committee
• Meets on a monthly basis to:
o Discuss the progress of the program
o Invite new service providers to participate
o Make critical assessments and evaluations
Steering Committee Memebers
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Judge Rosemary Grant Higgins
Amy Campanelli, Supervisor, Officer of the Public Defender
Joe Danzl, Court Liaison, Sheriff’s Women’s Justice Program
Sarah Layden, Director of Advocacy Services, Rape Victim’s
Advocates
Daria Mueller, Chairperson, Chicago Coalition for the Homeless
Al Pizza, Supervisor, TASC
Pam Pottle, Supervisor, POWER Probation
Octavia Tyson, Housing Division, Heartland Alliance
Charise Valente, Supervisor, State’s Attorney’s Office
Current Projects
• Research with Dr. Art Lurigio, Loyola University
Chicago
o Modify WINGS Service Protocol Accordingly
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Felony Prostitution Court Conference 2013
Website development
Development of Participant Advisory Committee
Volunteers
Recommendations for Change
• Expand non-governmental support and funding for
community linkages through the Steering Committee
• Need for more in-patient and out-patient treatment
programs
• Safe Housing, food , clothing, and transportation
• Need for more Spanish-speaking services
Upcoming and Recent Events
• MSNBC’s The Today Show Interview to be broadcast
in documentary: “Sex Slaves in America”
• “WINGS takes flight in county,” Chicago Daily Law
Bulletin (September 5, 2012).
Contact Information
• Judge Rosemary Grant Higgins
Courtroom 206
2600 S. California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608
(773) 674-7416
• Susie Bucaro, Staff Attorney
(773) 674-3317
[email protected]
• Website:
http://www.cookcountycourt.org/ABOUTTHECOURT/CountyDepart
ment/CriminalDivision/SpecialtyCourts/WINGSandFeathers.aspx