In the News, Press Release |
CHICAGO — The Circuit Court of Cook County and the Cook County Justice Advisory Council (JAC) have been honored with a 2026 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievement Award in the Criminal Justice and Public Safety category for SEED (Supporting Education and Employment Development), a pretrial diversion program that gives emerging adults, eighteen to twenty-five years old, facing qualifying drug distribution and gun possession charges a pathway to avoid incarceration and build toward long-term stability.
The award is part of a record 115 NACo Achievement Awards presented to Cook County this year, recognizing innovative, effective government programs that improve services for residents and respond to critical community needs.
"This national recognition belongs to everyone who helped build SEED into a program that gives young people a real path forward, rather than a jail cell and a record that follows them for life," said Chief Judge Charles S. Beach II. "When we invest in emerging adults' education, employment and stability, we’re not just changing individual outcomes — we’re making Cook County safer and more just for everyone."
“Diversion programs like SEED that address underlying needs of people who come in contact with the system, are vital to breaking cycles of justice involvement and incarceration that harm families and communities,” said Avik Das, Executive Director of the JAC. “Through examining data and engaging with communities most impacted by the criminal legal system, we know the most successful reentry support begins at first contact with the system. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with the Office of the Chief Judge and other stakeholders to expand innovative pretrial diversion and reentry programming in Cook County."
SEED was developed to address the overrepresentation of emerging adults in the Cook County Jail population and the stark racial disparities associated with certain felony charges. At the time the program was developed, emerging adults made up roughly 13% of Cook County's adult population but accounted for more than 20% of jail admissions and over 30% of the jail's average daily population. Black adults were more than 150 times as likely as white adults to be admitted to jail on manufacturing/delivery of a controlled substance charges — one of the most common charges driving jail admissions among this population.
Launched in 2021 and collaboratively developed by Cook County court system stakeholders — including the Justice Advisory Council and the Cook County State's Attorney's Office — SEED offers eligible participants a comprehensive, year-long alternative to traditional prosecution. Referred by prosecutors, public defenders, or judges, participants work with a case manager from Heartland Human Services and engage in cognitive behavioral therapy alongside individualized educational and employment programming. Participants who successfully complete the program have their case dismissed and become eligible to have their record expunged.
By the numbers:
- 241 individuals have graduated from SEED since 2021
- 204 SEED graduates have had their records expunged with support from the program's expungement partner
- 98.7% of participants had full-time employment at the time of graduation
Among SEED's graduates is Yasmin, who was referred to the program in 2023 following a possession charge that arose during a period of housing instability. Through SEED, Yasmin reconnected with a long-held interest in the culinary arts, earning her Illinois BASSET, ServSafe Food Handling, and ServSafe Allergens certifications. She graduated from SEED in 2024 and is now working toward a career in the culinary field.
SEED has also introduced a pre-filing process for expungement, allowing graduates to move through the standard post-dismissal waiting period more quickly and reducing the time a criminal record continues to affect their lives after successful completion.
The program was initially developed under Cook County's participation in the Safety and Justice Challenge, a MacArthur Foundation initiative focused on safely reducing local jail populations and addressing racial disparities in the justice system, and modeled in part on Philadelphia's The Choice Is Yours diversion program Initially supported by philanthropic and federal Covid-19 relief funding, SEED is now funded via the County under the Offices of the Cook County Board President.
NACo Achievement Awards are presented annually across 18 categories and recognize county programs selected for their innovation, measurable impact, and potential to be replicated nationwide. To learn more about the NACo Achievement Awards, visit naco.org. To view the full list of Cook County's 2026 NACo award-winning programs, visit the Cook County Department of Research, Operations and Innovation webpage.
About the Circuit Court of Cook County
The Circuit Court of Cook County is one of the largest unified court systems in the world, serving more than five million residents with more than 400 judges across eight divisions and six municipal districts. The Court remains committed to providing fair, efficient, and accessible justice for all residents of Cook County.
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