The Kane County Treatment Alternative Court Program has expanded in order to increase the number of participants by 50% effective immediately.

Previously, Treatment Alternative Court had a maximum capacity of 20 participants, which will now increase to 30 participants.

Judge Marmarie Kostelny

Presiding TAC Judge Marmarie Kostelny said the extra capacity is greatly needed.

“There’s been an identified increased need in our community due to the fact that there has been a wait list for participation in TAC for over a year,” she said.

Treatment Alternative Court is a Kane County specialty court program established in 2006 to serve defendants who have serious mental health disorders, co-occurring disorders, or developmental disabilities.

TAC works with participants to establish appropriate psychiatric and therapeutic care to reduce symptoms and reduce new arrests.

The program brings together community based agencies to address the needs of defendants and provides comprehensive case management with intense judicial supervision in an effort to reduce future criminal activity and incarceration.

Three local agencies serve on the TAC team.

The Ecker Center for Mental Health provides outpatient mental health treatment for participants residing in the northern half of Kane County and the Association for Individual Development provides outpatient mental health services for those living in the southern half of the county. Gateway Foundation in Aurora provides substance abuse disorder treatment.

All three agencies have committed their resources for the increase in TAC participants.

Former Chief Judge Susan Clancy Boles authorized committing judicial resources for the capacity increase and Chief Judge Clint Hull has authorized the implementation.

The mission of the judiciary of the 16th Judicial Circuit is to provide equal access to a fair and impartial system of justice by which legal disputes may be resolved in a timely, efficient manner, while fostering public trust and confidence.​​

For information, you can visit us at illinois16thjudicialcircuit.org.

SOURCE: 16th Judicial Circuit news release