WINNEBAGO COUNTY JAIL STAR PROGRAM
The STAR Program exists because of a strong partnership between Solutions Recovery, Winnebago County Sheriff's Office, Winnebago County Public Health, and the Winnebago County Human Services. Together, these agencies built a different response inside the jail, one rooted in lived experience, compassion, accountability, and the belief that recovery can begin anywhere. What started as a collaborative vision has grown into a powerful program that reaches people at some of the most critical moments in their lives.
Sobriety Treatment Assisted Recovery
STAR Program Overview
The STAR Program brings recovery and support directly into the Winnebago County Jail. Every day, our team works with men and women inside the jail to offer structure, guidance, and hope through peer-led recovery services.
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The program includes a Men’s Recovery Pod with up to 60 participants and a Women’s Recovery Pod with 9 participants. Each provides a structured environment centered on peer support, accountability, and connection.
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Participants take part in daily recovery groups focused on building skills, setting goals, and preparing for life after release. We also offer groups for the general jail population for those ready to explore recovery.
Impact from Participants
For participants, STAR is often the first time someone sits with them who has lived through similar experiences and believes in their ability to move forward.
This partnership allows us to walk beside people during a vulnerable time and continue supporting them as they rebuild their lives in the community.
A Community Built on
Lived Experience
Every member of our team brings lived experience with addiction and recovery. Our Recovery Coaches are people who have rebuilt their own lives, repaired relationships, maintained long term recovery, and found purpose on the other side of addiction. They walk into the jail and community as living proof that recovery is real, possible, and worth fighting for. That shared experience creates a unique and effective trust among staff and participants.
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On any given day, the STAR team serves more than 100 people daily, reaching 800 or more each year. We partner closely with Human Services, Probation, the District Attorney’s Office, treatment providers, and the Jail to create a seamless path from incarceration to recovery, including door-to-door transportation and warm handoffs to care in the community.
Supporting Someone Inside?​
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If someone you love is incarcerated and struggling with substance use, you are not alone. Families often feel helpless during this time, unsure of what support is available or how to help.
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The STAR team can help answer questions and explain how recovery services inside the jail work. While participation is voluntary and initiated by the individual, we are here to provide guidance and information.
Call our team at 866-465-0010 or email info@solutionsrecovery.org to connect.
There is always a path forward.
A Mural That Tells a Bigger Story
This mural tells a story without words. It reflects the quiet determination of individuals choosing a different path and honors the steady climb of recovery, where each step forward carries intention, humility, and hope. The movement toward light reminds us that transformation does not happen all at once. It unfolds slowly, through connection, accountability, and the willingness to try again.​​ This mural was completed in February 2026 inside the Jail Men’s Recovery Pod. It stands as a visible reminder that even in the most restrictive environments, hope can take root. When a community chooses to respond with partnership instead of punishment alone, lives change.
Mural project supported by:
