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Cook County victim‑services unit outlines housing, legal and clinical support for trafficking survivors
Summary
Victim‑services staff described the unit’s survivor‑centered model, training and partnerships—shelter, housing, legal aid, detox referrals, job support, immigration options (T and U visas) and community donations from Uber and retailers.
Cook County Sheriff’s Office victim‑services staff described a survivor‑centered program and community partnerships at a Lyons Township meeting in late May, listing shelter, legal assistance, clinical care and immigration remedies available to trafficking victims.
Lieutenant Jim Drez introduced the Special Victims Unit and said the office reorganized to prioritize victims: "No matter what, the victim comes first," he said, describing two distinct tracks—criminal investigations and victim services. Drez said his team handles trafficking, child exploitation and related crimes and that victim‑centered practices grew in the 2019–2020 period in his office.
The victim‑services director (introduced in the program as Cindy Ker) said the unit, which Sheriff Dart assembled, includes survivors on staff, licensed clinicians and extensive community partnerships. She listed services the unit connects victims to: temporary shelter and housing, food pantries, legal support, job‑readiness and resume help, document recovery (IDs and birth certificates), detox placements and immigration assistance.
The director noted that immigration status often deters victims from seeking help and explained remedies that may be available to trafficking victims, including the T visa (for trafficking victims) and the U visa (for qualifying crime victims), which can provide a path to legal status if eligibility requirements are met.
Staff emphasized training and coordination: unit members complete 40‑hour domestic‑violence training and the program pairs criminal investigators with victim‑services staff so survivors receive clinical and legal support while investigations proceed. The director cited partnerships with nonprofits and private firms—Uber provided transportation funds and retailers donated hygiene and cosmetic supplies—to fill immediate needs while shelter and housing options are arranged.
The presentation closed with a call for continued community collaboration; staff encouraged residents and local frontline workers to report concerns early so investigators and victim‑services staff can respond.
No formal referrals or funding commitments were announced during the presentation.
