Nneka Jones Tapia
The Reformer
Changing the system from inside it, principle turned into change.
Nneka Jones Tapia is a transformative leader who has made history as the warden of the Cook County Jail, focusing on rehabilitation and support for those in the criminal justice system. This interview highlights her commitment to reforming the system through community partnerships and comprehensive support for individuals transitioning back into society.
“Just can't get out because they don't have the money to pay their bond. And many people that had engaged in what we call crimes of survival, they would steal bread so that they could eat. They would trespass on a store's property because they didn't have a place to lay their head.”
“Yes. So actually, even a few times before I was eight, my father was incarcerated. But oddly enough, I don't really remember those times. The one time, the last time that he was incarcerated, that's the time that stands out in my mind. I was in the third grade. I was eight years old. I remember being at home, sitting on the couch.”
“I think there were multiple reasons. You know, one of them was because we had improved our assessment tool to be able to identify more people. But I don't think that fully captures the essence of why those numbers went up. There were a number of mental health closures throughout the state that I do believe impacted that.”
“We started job training programs. So we, of course, the jail having, well, now about 6,000 inmates, we would have to feed those inmates three times a day. So we ran a kitchen there and inmates would work in the kitchen, yet we weren't giving them a certification.”
The Axe Files with David Axelrod — Ep. 256 — Nneka Jones Tapia
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