Keep McHenry County Safe

I am dedicated to ensuring McHenry County remains a safe and wonderful place to live and raise a family. To keep our communities safe, I have aggressively prosecuted sexually dangerous and violent offenders to remove those people from society. I earned a reputation as a tough, seasoned prosecutor in my nine years as a criminal prosecutor fighting crime in McHenry County, and as your State’s Attorney I have continued to deliver justice and put criminals behind bars.

Accomplishing this requires a strong working relationship with our law enforcement built on mutual respect and trust. I have improved this relationship through open communication, personal interaction, and appreciation for the vital work that police do for our communities. We are collaborating to make McHenry County safer, including launching a human trafficking taskforce to target prostitution and offer assistance to victims of human trafficking. We modernized the process by which law enforcement obtains warrants, allowing police to obtain warrant approval quickly and remotely through the Electronic Warrant Program to ensure opportunities for justice are not lost. And we are conducting regular trainings for law enforcement to help them better understand the legal process, especially for new officers.

In a criminal justice system that primarily focuses on the offender, the victim can be the forgotten party. As we seek justice, we make sure we are attending to the needs of crime victims. We provide unwavering support through constant communication and services so they can take part in securing their vision of justice and begin the process of healing. We started a Victim Support Group to provide solace to those who lost a loved one to crime. And we began providing therapy dogs as needed to child victims and witnesses struggling with the stressful ordeal of testifying in court.

Seeking justice also means ensuring that criminal offenders are treated fairly and that limited resources are not spent incarcerating non-violent offenders. All of us confront difficult times that can lead to isolated decisions we regret and that do not necessarily define our character. This is so often true of our young people and those suffering from an untreated mental illness or addiction. It is essential that we ensure that the criminal justice system serves a rehabilitative and not merely punitive function.

In my first four years as State’s Attorney, I have gotten violent and dangerous criminals off our streets. I have earned the respect of law enforcement, victim advocates, and community leaders. And I have stood with and advocated for victims of crime who are often haunted by the trauma they have suffered at the hands of violent or sexually-perverse criminals. It has been my honor to lead the fight for justice in McHenry County as your State’s Attorney, and I hope you will give me the honor of continuing this fight for another four years.