This Cook County judge gives convicts his cell number — if they complete addiction program

Cook County Circuit Judge Charles Burns, who’s run a specialized drug court for more than a decade. “I’ve lost people to overdoses, and you just stare at the ceiling in the middle of the night and think, ‘What could we have done to prevent that loss?’ ” | Provided

It’s something almost unheard of in Cook County’s criminal courts: Judge Charles Burns shares his cellphone number with people convicted of felony drug charges.

But not until they complete a probation program that helps them control their addictions.