Welcome to the State's Attorney's Office Highlights, where we proudly showcase the noteworthy achievements  and impactful strides of our dedicated team in upholding justice.

CRIMINAL ACCOUNTABILITY

• RECENT CASES

• CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN TASKFORCE – A taskforce organized under the McHenry County State’s Attorney’s Office and made up of 22 local McHenry County police departments to investigate reports of physical or sexual abuse of a child.Child abuse can be one of the most difficult crimes to investigate and prosecute.  This crime is often committed behind closed doors, without any independent witnesses.  The victims are our most vulnerable and helpless members of society who often have a difficult time disclosing abuse.  The taskforce was created to ensure that these investigations are being conducted by investigators with the specialized training a skillset required to be most effective.

• DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DEFERRED PROSECUTION PROGRAM (DVDPP) – This program is designed for less serious or “situational” offenders, i.e., those offenders with limited prior arrests who have engaged in mutual, low-level violence as means of conflict management, to keep a conviction from being permanently entered on their record. By meeting with a panel experienced in the field of domestic violence and completing a course of treatment as determined by the panel and any other requirements. Treatment may include substance abuse, psychological, marital, or conflict-management counseling and paying the requisite program fees, the offender has the opportunity to keep a conviction from being entered on their criminal record. Since the program’s inception in April 2021, 276 offenders have applied for the program of which 125 offenders have been accepted into the program. Since this programs inception, there have been no McHenry County instances of reoffending for those individuals who have successfully completed the program.

• THE VETERANS TRACK PROGRAM was designed to rehabilitate and restore veterans charged with criminal offenses in McHenry County. This Program was implemented with assistance from the Veteran’s Assistance Commission and TLS Veterans. The Program seeks to ensure that vets charged with a crime obtain necessary treatment and rehabilitation they may need, address housing needs, and assist with employment.

• DEFERRED PROSECUTION PROGRAM (DPP) - This program (originally titled First Offender Program) was initiated and designed for first-time, non-violent felony offenders to keep a conviction from being permanently entered on their record. By meeting with a community panel of citizens and completing requirements which may include community service, counseling, writing a letter of apology to the victim(s), paying restitution, obtaining a high school diploma or G.E.D. and paying the requisite program fees, the offender has the opportunity to keep a conviction from being entered on their criminal record. Since the program’s inception in September 2010, and including both felony and misdemeanor cases, 624 offenders have applied for the program of which 312 offenders have been accepted into the program, $336,915.46 in restitution has been collected and 10,652 hours of public service has been ordered in accepted cases. Since this programs inception, 90% of defendants have not reoffended within three years of their DPP graduation date.

• A Way Out Program:

• SAO DRUG ASSET FORFEITURE funds cover program costs saving the county tax payers thousands of dollars

   

• NEW DIRECTIONS INPATIENT TREATMENT - We assisted with fundraising to establish the New Directions Recovery Services’ first in–patient substance abuse treatment center in McHenry County.

   

• NALOXONE PROGRAM - In collaboration with the McHenry County Substance Abuse Coalition, the Police Naloxone Program was launched to ensure that all McHenry County police officers are supplied with this life-saving drug which reverses effects of a heroin or other opiate overdose. Approximately 350 officers have been trained in Naloxone administration, and, to date, police have administered Narcan 108 times through May, 2019, with an 87% survival rate, saving 94 lives.

   

• DRUG-INDUCED HOMICIDE PROSECUTIONS - Over the past three years, while other Chicago suburban counties saw drug overdose rise to all-time highs in 2018 and 2019, McHenry County experienced a decline of over 30% to pre-epidemic levels as a result of a comprehensive approach that expanded recovery systems and aggressively prosecuted drug dealers. Within the past year, prosecution of these crimes resulted in six defendants with drug induced homicide convictions.

   

• DUI COURT - We screened and approved enrollment to capacity in DUI court, providing intensive treatment, monitoring and judicial intervention to individuals in an effort to address alcohol addiction issues and reduce recidivism.

• AN ELECTRONIC SEARCH WARRANT SYSTEM was launched in early 2017. The system allows police to create search warrants online, send those warrants for review to a judge electronically, interact with the judge via video-conferencing, and ultimately obtain a warrant through a judge’s electronic signature.

   

• A NO-REFUSAL DUI POLICY was instituted in McHenry County in early 2018. We collaborated with nine police agencies to ensure that a warrant for a blood draw was sought in any case where a DUI suspect refused breathalyzer testing. This policy no longer allows DUI suspects to undermine criminal prosecutions.

   

• MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING (MADD) AND ALLIANCE AGAINST INTOXICATED MOTORISTS (AAIM) awards for outstanding impaired driving enforcement are ongoing and much appreciated).

• Sued to hold the SAFE-T Act unconstitutional
• Refused to enforce Governor Pritzker’s Covid Restaurant and Business Shutdowns
• Joined Litigation to Declare Governor Pritzker’s Executive Orders Unconstitutional
• Recovered $3.4 million on behalf of the County by Suing Opioid Manufacturers for causing the opioid epidemic
• Sued major pharmacies for their contribution to the opioid epidemic.
• Secured a preliminary injunction to ensure the Lake in the Hills Sanitary District was consolidated, thereby saving the county nearly $1 million.

• THERAPY DOGS ARE OFFERED TO VICTIMS AND WITNESSES through partnership with the Masonic Association of Service and Therapy Dogs. A therapy dog offers companionship and comfort to children witnesses and victims that must endure the intimidating process of being interviewed or testifying.

   

• FORMATION OF A CRIME VICTIM SUPPORT GROUP for those who have lost a loved one to crime. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 concerns, the meetings have been temporarily postponed.

• LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING is offered on a consistent basis to all McHenry County Police Agencies on subjects such as DUI Enforcement, Domestic Violence and Investigation, Drug Forfeitures, FOIA Enforcement, Illinois Bail Reform Act, Drug-Induced Homicide and Electronic Search Warrants. A secure portal for law enforcement has been established to view past training courses.

   

• NEW POLICE OFFICER ORIENTATIONS are conducted biannually, starting in 2018, covering subjects that would enable them to be better partners in the successful prosecution of a variety of cases, including direct and cross examination in the courtroom.

   

• SAO SPEAKERS BUREAU provides speakers on topics of community interest, including opioid addiction, domestic violence, elder abuse, social media issues, and identity theft. Since December 1, 2016, the State’s Attorney’s Office has spoken over 200 times to various community groups.

   

• OFFICE VOLUNTEERISM has included participation in various activities throughout the community. We continue to raise funds and donate food to community food pantries.

• FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA) TRAINING is provided annually to support our commitment to open and honest government. The training is for McHenry County government and law enforcement employees to ensure FOIAs are being handled properly and on a timely basis.

Budget Reductions:

In FY23, the SAO requested and was awarded 4 additional FTE’s in order to address the changes in the law and support advanced technology.  By reorganizing and reviewing office functions, the SAO was able to absorb all cost requirements (other than payroll) for the 4 additional staff members and add an inhouse Trial Technology Analyst.

• With time-saving software additions and reorganization of SAO’s Administrative staff, we were able to support 3 of the new staff (2 investigators and 1 ASA) with assistance without requesting any additional administrative FTE’s.
• Utilized $24,000 in Asset Forfeiture funds for all computer equipment for 4 new staff and specialized equipment and software for Technology Analyst.
• Purchased office furniture for new staff with Asset Forfeiture funds and General Fund surplus in FY22 budget

Since FY16 SAO has been proactive saving funds in areas where costs have gone up especially in the following:

• Over $9,000.00 in savings by conducting in-house CLE
• Over $252,000.00 in savings by utilizing SAO Asset Forfeiture Funds for all Criminal prosecution and equipment expenses
• Over $100,000.00 in savings by bringing Grand Jury Recorder in-house
• Saved over $2,100,000.00 by transitioning Labor Law negotiations and the handling of grievances in-house
• Awarded $963,519.00 in grant funds towards SAO Payroll ($98,417 annual Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Grant and $32,800 annual Violent Crimes Victim Assistance Program Grant)
• Saved $2,465,000 in Payroll funds by minimizing SAO staff over past 6 years