CHICAGO — Cook County Sheriff Thomas J. Dart has unveiled a new on-premise laundry program at the Cook County Jail that utilizes inmates to wash clothing instead of using outside contractors.
The “Clean Start” program uses 20 U.S. military veterans jailed on nonviolent charges. In addition to hands-on experience in laundry services, the program also includes a classroom component in which participants can learn business plans and entrepreneurial skills, thanks to support from Roosevelt University.