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OFFICE OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
MICHAEL G. NERHEIM
STATE'S ATTORNEY
March 28, 2016
For Immediate Release
Contact: Cynthia Vargas
(847) 377-3188
cvargas@lakecountyil.gov
The Lake County State's Attorney's Office Welcomes "Hitch"- a Courts Comfort Dog
Hitch, a black Labrador Retriever will be available in the Therapeutic Intensive Monitoring Courts as well as throughout the courtrooms to serve as comfort for those who have entered the criminal justice system due to a mental health illness and/or traumatic circumstances during their lifetime, or have an addiction.
Lake County State's Attorney Michael G. Nerheim and the Lake County State's Attorney's Office's Comfort Dogs (black Lab: Hitch and Mitch: gold Lab).
(Lake County, IL March 28, 2016) Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim announced that the State's Attorney's Office has adopted a second comfort dog. Hitch arrived to the Lake County State's Attorney's Office on March 21, 2016. Assistant State's Attorney Suzanne Willett and Assistant State's Attorney Beth Prager became the primary handlers for Hitch.
Hitch is a Black Labrador Retriever born on May 3, 2014. Similarly to Mitchell, Hitch was donated to the Lake County State's Attorney's Office by Support Dogs, Inc, a national not-for-profit organization accredited by Assistance Dogs International. Hitch also went through an extensive series of trainings, including a formal program at the Southwestern Illinois Correctional Center (SWICC). While at the SWICC program, inmates of the facility actually aid in the early training stages of these facility dogs. After the trainings concluded, Hitch graduated from Support Dogs, Inc., and became a professionally certified and trained assistance dog.
"Our first comfort dog, Mitchell, has been such a huge success
that I decided we should apply for a second dog. Mitchell will be used at
our Children’s Advocacy Center where his primary role will be to work with the
child victims of sexual and physical abuse," said Nerheim. "Even though Mitchell has only
been here for 11 months, he has already brought comfort to
hundreds of children. Hitch will be used here in the main
courthouse and will serve primarily in our Specialty Courts to help the
participants of those programs, but will also be available to victims and their
families. We know that the criminal justice process can be stressful for
all involved. The assistance that these comfort dogs bring is
invaluable."
Hitch will be assigned to the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit's Therapeutic Intensive Monitoring Program. The program includes Specialty Courts such as: Mental Health Court, Drug Court and Veterans Court.
In July 2005, the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit established the Drug Court component of the Therapeutic Intensive Monitoring (TIM) Court and, in January 2007, Mental Health Court was started. The mission of the TIM Program is to reduce crime, enhance public safety, and reduce jail populations by rehabilitating drug addicts and mentally ill offenders whose mental illness is the primary reason for their criminality. The mission is accomplished through a comprehensive and intensive therapeutic program.
The current target population for Drug Court includes offenders who reside in Lake County, are before the court on a class 2, 3, or 4 non-violent felony charge, and are deemed drug dependent but amenable for treatment.
For Mental Health Court, eligibility is dependent on Axis I mental illness diagnosis that is primary to the defendant’s criminal conduct, consent of the victim, non-violent history, legal residency, and amenability for treatment.
Eligibility requirements for Veterans (VTAC) Court include those who reside in Lake County, and are before the court on a misdemeanor or felony (Class 2-4). The offender must abide by a contract and must be eligible for VA treatment benefits, must have honorable or general discharge from the service or could be on active duty.
Referral sources include defense attorneys, prosecutors, judges, police, probation officers, and the Lake County Health Department.
Each component of TIM Court has an established multidisciplinary team consisting of treatment professionals, probation officials, judges, assistant state’s attorneys, and assistant public defenders. Depending on the phase of the program, a defendant can be required to report to court up to once per week. The services provided are extensive and incrementally reduced as the client stabilizes and progresses through the program. Before termination from the program, a long-term aftercare plan is developed to assist the defendant in maintaining a crime-free lifestyle for the remainder of the defendant’s life.
Hitch will be available in the Therapeutic Intensive Monitoring Courts as well as throughout the courtrooms to serve as comfort for those who have entered the criminal justice system due to a mental health illness, and/or traumatic circumstances during their lifetime, or have an addiction.
All veterinary maintenance is being donated by Dr. Ned Bartlett of Harbor Animal Hospital for Hitch. Grooming services are currently being donated by All Tails Pet Grooming in Zion, IL.
In April 2015, Mitchell a yellow Labrador Retriever born July 19, 2013, joined the Lake County Children's Advocacy Center. Assistant States Attorney Jason Grindel and Investigator James Magna became designated handlers for Mitchell.
Mitchell is assigned to the Children's Advocacy Center. The Center is a division of the State's Attorney's Office that assists with the investigation and prosecution of crimes involving the sexual and physical abuse of children. Mitchell provides comfort, compassion, and companionship to these children. When needed, Mitchell will accompany children as they talk with officials about their abuse.
All veterinary maintenance, grooming and nutrition services for Mitchell are being donated by the Grayslake Animal Hospital, Tops Grooming, and Purina Dog food.
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Lake County State's Attorney's Office 18 N. County Street Waukegan, IL 60085 Phone: (847) 377-3000
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