|
April 16, 2024
Justice for All
Dear residents and community leaders,
March closed out important work in our office as we honored women leaders and innovators for Women’s History Month 2024 and prepared for April as Child Abuse Prevention Month, Sexual Assault Awareness month, and National Crime Victims’ Rights Week.
The theme for Women's History Month 2024 was “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” The office honored this theme by recognizing the women in our office who work every hour of every day to ensure justice and safety in Lake County. We are proud that our office is as diverse as ever and that the majority of our divisions are led by women. Their experience in this county of winning trials and advocating for survivors of crime has made us all safer. You can read about three amazing office leaders below.
Survivors of crime are at the forefront of our daily work – whether it is in the courtroom or in the formulation of prevention strategies. Over the last few years, we have increased the number of attorneys prosecuting domestic violence, secured funding for a Lake County Human Trafficking Prosecution Task Force, expanded the number of victim-support professionals, and installed the first-ever Chief of Victim Services. In April each year, we work with partners like Zacharias Center and A Safe Place to expand community outreach and to educate the public about the network of programs and people who are here to support those in need. You can read more below about upcoming events including our resource fair and panel presentation on April 24, 2024, at the College of Lake County.
April is also one of the most important months of the year because our partners and colleagues at the Lake County Children’s Advocacy Center fan out across the area to promote the Blue Kids Campaign.
 
Women's History Month 2024
This year, for Women's History Month, the theme was “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.” The National Women’s History Alliance chooses a theme each year to celebrate Women’s History Month. The theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.
Lauren Callinan—First Assistant State’s Attorney
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is fortunate to have such a strong and experienced leader like First Assistant Lauren Callinan. She is only the second woman in the history of the Lake County State's Attorney's Office to serve in this position. First Assistant Callinan has worked in every division of the office and was the Chief of Domestic Violence prosecutions. As the First Assistant, Lauren formulates select training programs, and hires new attorneys and victim specialists. In addition to her work on several murder cases, Lauren has tirelessly advocated for equity and diversity within the office as one of the many ways to make our office and the legal system stronger. We thank her for her dedications to our office and to our community.
Ayah Elfarra—Senior Assistant State’s Attorney, Felony Review
Ayah Elfarra is a Senior Assistant State’s Attorney in our Felony Review Division. ASA Elfarra if one of the first Palestinian-American women to have ever worked in the State’s Attorney’s Office.
Ms. Elfarra said the main reason she wanted to become an attorney was because she wanted to help people. Being a prosecutor gives her the opportunity to help others every day.
“The work can be hard; but it is also very rewarding and fulfilling,” she stated.
Ms. Elfarra has been part of the State’s Attorney’s Office for almost three years now and she reflected on how the past six months have been particularly hard for her since she has lost her home in Gaza and almost 100 family members to bombing and starvation.
“I’ve lost part of myself but have received so much support and love from the people I've met here at the State’s Attorney’s Office. They are the main reason I can come to work every day and serve the people of Lake County,” Ms. Elfarra said.
We thank her for her devotion to ensuring justice in our community.
Melissa Cisneros, Victim Specialist, Gun Violence Prevention Initiative
Our office has amazing victim specialists who work tirelessly to help victims navigate the court process every day. Last month, we recognized Gun Violence Victim Specialist Melissa Cisneros, who is the first person in the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office to serve in this new position which focuses exclusively on victims and survivors of gun violence and helping them receive necessary services during an especially trying time.
Connecting with the Mexican Consulate on Victim Services
Last month, State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart and Chief of Victim Services, Jackie Herrera Giron, had the honor of meeting with the Deputy Consul General, Consul of Protection, and Consular Agent of the Consulate General of Mexico located in Chicago. During the meeting, they discussed common goals both offices had surrounding victim services.
Assisting our victims in current cases of human trafficking and the Highland Park mass shooting case brought us together. This collaboration will only enhance the work that we can do together to uplift and wrap victims with services like the processing of U and T visas for victims of violent crimes and trafficking and lending the opportunity to refer the victim directly to services with the Mexican consulate.
The Mexican consulate offers a variety of services that our Victim Specialist will use to connect victims, such as providing gratuitous legal consultations, identification documentation, assisting the next of kin of the homicide for the return of the deceased back to the country of origin for burial, facilitating the U-Visa process, and working with victims of domestic violence by connecting them with shelter, and mental health services.
State’s Attorney Rinehart and Other Law Enforcement Leaders Push for Larger Investment in Children In 2025 Statewide Budget
With our partner, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Illinois, State's Attorney Rinehart and other State's Attorneys as well as police chiefs from across Illinois met with legislative leaders to discuss crime prevention strategies. We know that investment in early childhood education, parenting support, and increased day care will make all communities safer.
Mr. Rinehart stated, “Prevention and investment are critical components to long-term safety. I was proud to join other Illinois law enforcement leaders in advocating for deeper and broader investment in all Illinois communities. By paying for schools now, we won’t have to pay for prisons later. But much more importantly, economic opportunity and the treatment of trauma helps people and stops the crime and victimization before they happen.”
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids – Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy group consisting of prosecutors and police chiefs who educate policymakers and elected officials about the importance of early child investment in reducing crime.
Victim Specialist Attend International Conference on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and the Cycle of Justice
At the beginning of this month, our office had four victim specialists and one prosecutor attend the. They had the opportunity to connect with International Conference on Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, and the Cycle of Justice experts from all over the country such as law enforcement, prosecutors, advocates, health care, judges, faith leaders, educators, researchers, and others to discuss the latest research, policies, and best practices to end gender-based violence.
Upcoming Events
Gun Violence Reduction Plan Press Conference –
April 23
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Gun Violence Prevention Initiative will be introducing the new Violence Reduction plan at a press conference on Tuesday, April 23, 2024, at 1:00p.m. Members of the media and the community will have the time to review and ask questions about the new plan. More details to come!
Highland Park Library Victims’ Rights Discussion –
April 23
In honor of National Crimes Victims’ Rights Week, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office in collaboration with the Highland Park Library and the City of Highland Park will be hosting a discussion on Victims’ Rights and victim’s compensation information. This will take place at the Highland Park Library on Tuesday, April 23, beginning at 5:30 p.m.
National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Panel Discussion – April 24
In honor of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, our office is collaborating with the College of Lake County’s Criminal Justice Department to host a Victims’ Rights Panel Discussion on Wednesday, April 24, at 1:00 p.m. Panelist include State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart, Lake County State‘s Attorney Eric Rinehart, Director of Marsy’s Law for Illinois Jennifer Bishop Jenkins, College of Lake County Title IX Coordinator Dr. Kristin D. Jones. There will be a resource fair from 12:00 p.m. to 12:45. If your organization offers victim services and would like to be part of the resource fair, please visit:
Gurnee/Warren Township GVPI Town Hall – April 24
The GVPI is collaborating with Lake County Board members Carissa Casbon and Sara Knizhnik to host a Gurnee/Warren Township Gun Violence Prevention Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, April 24 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
A Safe Place Empower Run 5K - May 4
Run for a cause and support survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. A Safe Place will be hosting their annual Empower Run on Saturday, May 4, at 8:00 a.m.
Register here: https://runsignup.com/Race/Events/IL/Libertyville/EmpowerRun5k
Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center's Annual Spring Luncheon, A Garden Experience - May 17
Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center is having their Annual Spring Luncheon, A Garden Experience, on Friday, May 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Evanston Golf Club, 4401 Dempster St., Skokie.
You can purchase tickets here: Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center · ZCenter's Annual Spring Luncheon 2024 (lglforms.com)
JJV 3rd Annual Spring Seminar – May 30
SAVE THE DATE! The Juvenile Justice Council is having their 3rd Annual Spring Seminar on May 30, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. More details to come!
|
