The Chicago News Cooperative's Daniel Libit has a nice profile this morning of Judge John Kirby, who initiated a "one-man reform campaign" to ease the glut of nonviolent drug cases in the Cook County court system and divert those offenders into drug treatment and educational programs:

His approach showed promise. A few offenders will receive high school diplomas through a Cook County Jail program this month. Local reformers applaud Mr. Kirby’s changes. And now, despite some contention between them, Thomas Dart, the Cook County sheriff, and Timothy C. Evans, chief judge of the county Circuit Court, are exploring ways of expanding the diversion process into other courtrooms.

One of those organizations working hard to increase alternatives to prison is the Chicago Appleseed Fund for Justice.  They're currently collecting data about various drug treatment facilities in the area to reassure judges that enough facilities exist to divert offenders. They've also authored a similar diversionary proposal for the Cook County felony court system. And it's worth mentioning that Ald. Toni Preckwinkle has talked at length about expanding electronic home monitoring and diversion programs to lower the county's prison population if she's elected board president this November.