How would you plan to engage the community as State’s Attorney, including community-based organizations, criminal legal system and policing reform advocates, and other neighborhood-based groups as part of determining priorities and setting policies for your office?
RINEHART: We have started or expanded several community councils since I became State’s Attorney. I have described the Juvenile Justice Council above which consists of community leaders, educators, law enforcement, CBO leaders, and members of the faith community. Also, we have started something called a “Violence Prevention Coordinating Council” which consists of the heads of CBOs that work in youth mentoring and gun violence prevention. This collaborative and dynamic group is part of GVPI. Separate from the council, generally speaking, our GVPI has been conducting town halls and engaging in surveys to listen to the public about their specific concerns about gun violence.
In late 2021, we launched the first ever data dashboard that shows our filing data, disparities in arrest rates, diversion rates, employee diversity, and homicides. This data dashboard is the first of its kind outside Chicago as far as I can tell.
We have conducted several townhalls each year directed at “traditional issues” such issues as gun violence, human trafficking, and victims’ rights. But we also conducted four townhalls in 2023 aimed specifically at Restorative Justice. Each townhall included a different topic: a) mental health & the criminal justice system; b) the data supporting diversion; c) substance abuse treatment & the criminal justice system; and d) juvenile diversion. Each of these townhalls were effectively promoted in impacted communities and had very good attendance.
As the State’s Attorney I also participate in the following community boards/councils: “Partnership for a Safer Lake County,” “The Lake County Opioid Initiative” and the “Criminal Justice Community Council” (MacArthur Foundation supported.
These townhalls and community councils increase our office’s presence in the community and allow us to LISTEN to others. Almost all of these councils make direct policy recommendations to the office.
The State’s Attorneys Association holds great sway in Springfield in the debate and adoption of policies related to the criminal legal system. How would you attempt to influence the association’s agenda in a direction that advances civil liberties and civil rights, especially for the communities in your jurisdiction that are disproportionately harmed by regressive policies that gain traction in the legislature?
RINEHART: I have personally advocated for the SAFE-T Act to this group. I have hired my own legislative consultant in order to remain independent of the Association.
I have personally discussed many important topics with these leaders, but it is there are not a lot of opportunities for dialogue or even open calls for new initiatives. The Association’s legislative agenda is controlled by Mr. Berlin, Mr. Glasgow, Mr. Kenneally (incoming president) and increasing Ms. Mosser. I have worked closely with legislators directly and, in the short run, will use my access to those legislators to force tough conversations with the Association.
