“This approach helps ensure that prosecutors have the necessary evidence early in the case and that the survivors of crime are fully informed," Rinehart said. "Vertical prosecution helps us get to the truth faster so that we can achieve justice for the victims quickly while also avoiding the wrongful convictions of the past.” 

 “Too many victims and survivors of crime have been forgotten in our courthouse,” Rinehart said, “my office has instituted several new policies and personnel changes in order to seek justice for all.”  

The State’s Attorney is seeking grant dollars for a text notification system that would update victims and witnesses about changes in court dates. Rinehart has also increased the number of Spanish-speaking Victim Witness Coordinators, doubled the number of meetings for the Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Coordinating Councils, and laid the groundwork for a Victims’ Advisory Panel. 

State’s Attorney Rinehart is in the process of hiring the first-ever Chief of Victim Services this month, whose role will be to coordinate and unify victim outreach across the office's divisions and to increase compliance with the Victims’ Bill of Rights. 

Rinehart promised to diversify the office by parting with the old guard that controlled the office for decades.  

By recruiting the best attorneys available inside and outside the office, Rinehart has increased the percentage of women supervisors in the criminal division from 27% to 50%, and the percentage of supervisors of color from 0% to 42%. 

The office is proud to have promoted Lauren Callinan from within as the Chief of Domestic Violence; recruited former Assistant Attorney General Donna Jo Maki to become the Chief of Sex Crimes; and, for the first time ever promoted a woman, Sharmila Manak, to the First Assistant/Chief Deputy position.  

Following through on his commitment to transparency and the use of data, Rinehart began tracking prosecutor caseloads through a previously non-existent internal database, which will allow the office to better distribute work, to identify areas of need, and to maintain effective victim contact. In addition, he began cataloging prior cases involving constitutional violations to increase police and prosecutor accountability.  

Rinehart reported that even with these the new programs and new hires, the office had saved money to date by combining 3.5 supervisor positions into 2 and by fostering new grant partnerships. One such grant the State’s Attorney is taking advantage of, is a partnership between the Sheriff’s Office and other Lake County justice partners for a data analyst who will help implement strategies to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in our criminal justice system and assist in developing the office’s first ever public data dashboard. 

With an eye toward making Lake County safer, Rinehart plans to continue to work proactively with the legislature. 

“One of the most important parts of my job is to openly advocate for legislation that decreases crime now, and decades into the future,” Rinehart said, adding that he plans to publicly support bills that fix holes in the FOID Act, expand firearm restraining orders and regulate gun dealers. 

“I love coming to work every day to fight for the people of Lake County,” Rinehart said. “Through innovative and aggressive techniques, we will reverse the trend of rising violence while also working to restore the trust between the people and the courthouse.” 

For more information, please visit the Lake County State's Attorney's Facebook page: facebook.com/LCSTATESATTORNEY.