The Lake County States Attorney Office will adapt the public health approach of the Cure Violence model to address gun violence in Lake County. This model uses disease control methods to stop violence through: 1) Identification and detection of individuals and scenarios that need to be addressed; 2) Interruption, intervention, and risk reduction of the violence by interacting with the individuals who cause violence; and 3) Change behaviors and norms with those individuals.

The Violence Prevention and Reduction (VPR) program provides sub-awards to agencies for violence prevention and reduction services and strategies, to mediate and intervene with conflicts, and provide other supports to reduce the shooting and homicide incidents in high need communities.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office implemented its alternative sentencing-focused Deferred Prosecution Program in February 2011. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority awarded a grant to the Loyola University Chicago to evaluate the program in 2013. The program became the model for the Offender Initiative Program, enacted by state law (730 ILCS 5/5-6-3.3) in 2013 to promote public safety, conserve resources, and reduce recidivism.

Violence Prevention and Street Intervention Program (VPSIP) funds designated to Metropolitan Family Services support its Communities Partnering 4 Peace (CP4P) program. CP4P provides a targeted and holistic multi-tiered approach to confronting gun violence in the highest risk neighborhoods of Chicago, implementing multiple interventions that work directly with both perpetrators and the victims of gun violence. This comprehensive response collaborates with local agencies skilled in peace, trauma, victim services, and wraparound supports and have capable outreach workers who live and work within the communities served. CP4P partner agencies are fully integrated within the neighborhoods, allowing them to establish authentic relationships and be responsive to incidences of gun violence and the needs of those impacted by it.

The SFY25 State Budget appropriated $1,550,000 in General Revenue Funds for grants and administrative services associated with violence prevention programs, youth employment programs, and operational expenses to named entities.

This evaluation looks at the development, implementation, and impact of the Cook County State Attorneys’ Deferred Prosecution Program (DPP). Researchers used a mixed methodological approach involving qualitative and quantitative methods including a quasi-experimental design to measure outcomes.

Eric Rinehart is the Lake County state’s attorney, serving as chief administrator for the prosecutor’s office. Prior to becoming Lake County state’s attorney, Mr. Rinehart was the principal assistant for the Lake County Public Defender’s Office, where he represented approximately 100 defendants in felony cases and served as the lead attorney in 30 jury trials. He also trained assistant public defenders on trial and litigation tactics. Mr. Rinehart was the lead appellate counsel in successful oral arguments before the U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals as a Schopf & Weiss litigation associate. He is a member of the Lake County Bar Association & Criminal Law Committee, Illinois Public Defender Association, Lake County Coalition to Reduce Recidivism, and the North Suburban Legal Aid & Illinois Domestic Violence Coalition. Mr. Rinehart earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at Knox College and a juris doctorate at the University of Chicago Law School.

Eileen O’Neill Burke was elected Cook County State’s Attorney in 2024. Eileen’s deep and diverse experience working on the front lines of the justice system began when she served as a Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney in 1991. After a decade as a prosecutor, Eileen worked as a criminal defense attorney, which gave her a balanced view of the justice system. In 2008, Eileen was elected to the Circuit Court of Cook County, where she served for eight years, presiding over both criminal and civil litigation. In 2016, Justice Burke was elected to the First District Appellate Court in Cook County. During her time there, she authored over 800 written decisions in both civil and criminal cases and reviewed over 1,800 trial court decisions. Justice Burke has a special passion for training the newest judges and taught Civil Procedure to every new judge in Illinois for 12 years, beginning in 2012, as part of the Judicial Education Faculty. Justice Burke also served as the President of the Illinois Judges Association until June of 2023 and led that organization’s classroom education efforts. A fourth generation Chicagoan, Eileen was born and raised on the Northwest side and graduated from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana and Chicago-Kent College of Law.

Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee Public notice is hereby given that the ICJIA Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee will conduct a public meeting on February 13th, 2025, at 10:00 A.M. WebEx Webinar link and Call-in information is available on the agenda. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

VIOLENCE PREVENTION AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA This serves as Public Notice of the Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee Regular Meeting to be held at the date, time and location set forth below. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

Public notice is hereby given that the ICJIA Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee will conduct a public meeting on November 13th, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. WebEx Webinar link and Call-in information is available on the agenda. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

Public notice is hereby given that the ICJIA Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee will conduct a public meeting on August 8th, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. Call-in information is available on the agenda. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

Public notice is hereby given that the ICJIA Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee will conduct a public meeting on May 9, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. Call-in information is available on the agenda. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

This serves as Public Notice of the Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee Regular Meeting to be held at the date, time and location set forth below. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

Date and Time Thursday, February 8th, 2024 10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Videoconference Teleconference: Videoconference Link Emailed

This serves as Public Notice of the Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee Regular Meeting to be held at the date, time and location set forth below. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

Public notice is hereby given that the Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee will conduct a public meeting on 8/10/23, at 10:00 am by WebEx. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

This serves as Public Notice of the Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee Regular Meeting to be held at the date, time and location set forth below. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

Public notice is hereby given that the ICJIA Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee will conduct a public meeting on February 23rd at 10:00 am. via WebEx. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

This serves as Public Notice of the Violence Prevention Ad Hoc Committee Regular Meeting to be held at the date, time and location set forth below. All interested parties are invited to attend and will be given the opportunity for public comment.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is requesting proposals for grants Violence Prevention Planning and One Time Supports. Grants will be made with SFY 2020 Violence Prevention and Street Intervention funds. A total of $8,336,326 in funding is available through this solicitation for use over a period of 6 months.

The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority is requesting a proposal from Metropolitan Family Services for a grant to fund Violence Prevention and Street Intervention. The grant will be made with SFS state fiscal year 2020 funds. A total of $2,250,000 in funding is available through this solicitation for use over a period of ten months.

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office implemented its alternative sentencing-focused Deferred Prosecution Program in February 2011. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority awarded a grant to the Loyola University Chicago to evaluate the program in 2013. The program became the model for the Offender Initiative Program, enacted by state law (730 ILCS 5/5-6-3.3) in 2013 to promote public safety, conserve resources, and reduce recidivism.