Connections (PSA program) – Pretrial Success Act
TASC Connections (also known as the Connections: Voluntary Community Support Program) is a voluntary, community-based support initiative that helps individuals who have been released pretrial stay connected to the services they need to succeed in their communities. Through comprehensive screening, assessment, and ongoing support, Connections links people to behavioral health and recovery resources — including substance use and mental health treatment, case management, and other supports that address the root causes of challenges they may face while navigating the pretrial period.
Who Can Benefit
Connections is designed for individuals charged with a criminal offense who have been granted pretrial release. Participants may benefit from:
- Behavioral health assessment and support for mental health or substance use concerns.
- Linkage to treatment and recovery services in the community.
- Ongoing case management and navigation of complex service systems.
- Supports that help maintain stability during the pretrial period (e.g., treatment engagement, connections to housing and employment supports as appropriate).
Participation is voluntary and rooted in best practices that emphasize dignity, autonomy, and community integration.
Ties to the Pretrial Success Act
The Pretrial Success Act is Illinois legislation that expands access to voluntary, community-based pretrial supports and services for people who are awaiting trial in the community. It emphasizes trauma-informed, culturally competent, voluntary services that help individuals appear in court, reduce subsequent system involvement, and improve overall well-being.TASC Connections operates within this framework: it is part of the network of services funded and structured to fulfill the goals of the Pretrial Success Act by providing community-based support rather than coercive or jail-based interventions. Connections complements the Act by offering hands-on, individualized support that aligns with the law’s core intent — maximizing pretrial success by addressing behavioral health needs and connecting people to community resources.