On April 20th KCDW held a forum entitled “Justice Partners: The Impact of Women in the Justice System” and featured three women who work in the Kane County justice system. The three women were introduced by Judge Julio Valdez who began by saying that Kane County residents are fortunate to have this talented and dedicated group of women, and “to achieve more justice, we need more women in justice.” Judge Valdez served as the moderator and directed questions from the audience to each panelist.
Jamie Mosser, Kane County States Attorney, said that when she took over the states attorney’s office, she wanted to change the direction of the prosecutor’s office. One objective was to discover why people being arrested committed the crime and why repeat offenders keep committing the same crimes. Mosser’s main objective was to stop the cycle of arrest. Mosser pointed out that there are many reasons that people are arrested. Some of these include PTSD, drug addiction, mental illness, homelessness, etc. To find the answers to these questions, she consults with Dr. Alexandra Tsang, Psy.D., Chief Psychologist Director of the Kane County Diagnostic Center, and in the case of juveniles, she consults with Judge Sandra Parga, a juvenile court judge. Mosser works closely with Dr. Tsang to make sure that offenders have access to psychological counseling and medications if needed, and to provide training and help so that offenders can find work when they have completed their sentence. The aim is to find a way to resolve the issue that brought the offender into the justice system and provide a better path for the future.
In the case of juveniles, the focus of the court is on “what is in the best interest of the child.” Some of the same reasons for adult detention apply to juveniles: substance abuse, mental health, violence in the home, behavior issues at school, etc. Judge Sandra Parga also works with Dr. Tsang to look at all aspects of a child’s life such as family, school, relationships with friends, etc., to determine why the child was detained and find a way to help the child get the help needed to have a positive future. This may include counseling for the family, tutoring for the child, etc.
The women discussed some of the challenges they have faced in the judicial field and some of the unique qualities and characteristics that women bring to these types of positions. These include the impression that women are overly emotional and cannot be as logical as men. Mosser pointed out that women can think logically and emotionally at the same time. Dr. Tsang said one barrier is that women are sometimes not given the same credibility as men. She said you have to develop your own style of leadership and find a way of establishing credibility. She has a mentoring relationship with her employees. She listens to their ideas and is approachable, but also firm when needed. Judge Parga said that when she first became a judge, there were few women in the field, and she faced comments about how women should be focusing on their children. The three women also pointed out some of the qualities that women bring to the bench. Women are more collaborative in general than men are. This leads to problem-solving strategies. Women are also good listeners, and this leads to understanding how life experiences may have impacted the offender. And last but not least, women are used to multitasking. They wear many hats in their personal lives that carry over to their professional lives.
Judge Valdez concluded by acknowledging the contributions that these three women have brought to the Kane County judicial system. Mosser has set up rehabilitation programs (drug, mental health, veterans, DUI) where offenders meet with a team several times a week to track progress and receive help with housing, employment, etc. Dr. Tsang’s office assesses and sets up counseling programs that are the gold standard for other counties in IL. Kane County is one of the few counties to use EMDR, a treatment to help trauma victims. Judge Parga has rendered decisions that improved the lives of many children. In addition, she revamped the interpretive division of the courts by making sure that all interpreters are certified or registered interpreters so that defendants understand the charges against them and the steps they need to take when they leave court. During Covid, Judge Parga created a Zoom instruction manual for the Kane County Courts that has become the manual used throughout the state.
In conclusion, the speakers agreed that young women should persevere and not give up even when people make discouraging remarks. Aim high and fulfill your dream. The balance of women versus men in the judicial system is still low, and more women are needed in this challenging and fulfilling field.