Will County State's Attorney

The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office performs several important functions on behalf of the citizens of Will County. Will County is the fourth largest county in Illinois with a recorded population of 668,217 as of July 2006.

The State’s Attorney’s Office is divided into three divisions:
• Criminal Division
• Civil Division
• Administrative Division


Criminal Division
The most visible – and arguably the most critical – of the functions performed by the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office is to prosecute all violations of criminal law – both felony and misdemeanor – that occur in Will County. The Criminal Division, through its Complaint Office, files in excess of 3,000 felony cases and 5,000 misdemeanor cases annually.

The State’s Attorney’s Office has instituted a number of specialized prosecution units to handle the prosecution of cases. These include: the Drug Prosecution Unit, the Gang Crimes Prosecution Unit, the Computer Crimes Unit, the Financial Crimes Unit, the Domestic Violence Unit, the Forfeiture Unit and the Major Crimes Unit.

The State’s Attorney’s Office also prosecutes the majority of traffic offenses that occur in Will County.


Civil Division
The State’s Attorney, through his Civil Division, serves as the lawyer for Will County. The State’s Attorney’s Office provides legal advice and representation for the county and its officials, both elected and appointed, in civil matters that arise through the course of their official duties.

The Civil Division researches and prepares legal opinions on behalf of county officers who raise questions concerning the drafting of contracts and county policies. The Civil Division also monitors new legislation to determine the potential impact on county operations. The division also assists with budget preparation and responds to citizen complaints regarding any unit of government.

In addition, the Civil Division deploys a Child Support Enforcement Unit, a Mental Health Unit and an Election Fraud Unit. The Civil Division also prosecutes all violations of Will County’s zoning, building and public health ordinances

Other Services
Other services the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office provides include:

• The Will County Children’s Advocacy Center. The center’s staff interviews children who are the victims of sexual or extreme physical abuse. The videotaped statements have been used in the prosecution of hundreds of sexual predators. The center also provides counseling services to victims and their families.
• Will County Drug Court – Adult and Juvenile. Drug Court is a diversion program in which non-violent drug abusers who have been charged with crimes are provided with intensive supervision, treatment and counseling to help them kick their addictions.
• Bad Check Restitution Program. The program targets for possible prosecution those who have written checks with insufficient funds to local businesses. The program has returned $1.5 million to the business community as of August 2009.
• Crime Prevention and Community Education Programs. The Crime Prevention Office coordinates law enforcement experts (prosecutors and police officers) with expertise in various areas (gang crime, Internet crime, crimes against senior citizens, child abuse, domestic abuse, etc.) to make educational presentations to educators, parents, community organizations and civic groups.
• Victim and Witness Services. The office works with victims of violent crimes once criminal charges have been filed to provide information, assistance and support during the prosecution of the offenders. Advocates are in daily contact with victims, keeping them up-to-date with scheduled court dates and accompanying them to court. They also provide other personal services, including: referrals to shelters or counseling; arranging for translators or child care when necessary; and assisting victims in preparing their testimony for trial.