Additionally, State Attorney Rinehart’s new budget includes funding for victim specialists, a trial prosecutor in the Special Victims Unit, and technology upgrades related to the increased use of police body cameras.   

“The new county budget invests in vital public safety needs and addresses burgeoning financial crimes committed against Lake County residents,” State’s Attorney Rinehart said. “I want to personally thank the Lake County Board for backing these public safety efforts.” 

The new Financial Crimes Unit will also lead public education efforts and enhance law enforcement training with respect to investigating these types of complex crimes, according to the unit’s new chief, Assistant State’s Attorney Kevin Berrill. 

“This new unit will help protect vulnerable Lake County residents susceptible to financial exploitation due to age or disability,” Berrill said. “Additionally, our work will help safeguard the local business community who also may be at risk of corporate fraud.”   

The new county budget also shores up Rinehart’s attorney workforce for its recently created violent crimes unit. 

“In 2021, the County Board funded a Violent Crimes Unit through the federally funded American Rescue Plan Act, and we have subsequently won millions of dollars in grants to fund this unit,” said Rinehart. “But this year our office needed to preserve and invest in our office’s workforce of attorneys by permanently funding salary increases for our starting attorneys to be competitive with our neighbors in Kane, McHenry, and Cook Counties, thus keeping Lake County attorneys in Lake County.” 

The 2024 Lake County Budget includes $1.6M increase for the State’s Attorney’s Office and is the most robust investment in the office in over a decade." 

“We appreciate the Board’s intentional decision to prioritize these public-safety issues,” said Rinehart. “With competitive salaries, technology upgrades, and increased staff, we can advance our mission of supporting survivors, holding offenders accountable, and protecting the community.”