Public Accountability Report

The primary objective of the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor is to deliver quality professional services to all participating counties in full compliance with its legislative mandate. This includes:

1. representing the People of the State of Illinois on appeal in cases that emanate from a county containing fewer than 3 million inhabitants, when requested to do so and at the direction of the State's Attorney;

2. preparing, filing, and arguing such appellate briefs in the Illinois Appellate Court with the advice and consent of the State's Attorney and, when requested and authorized to do so by the Attorney General, in the Supreme Court;

3. assisting State's Attorneys in the discharge of their duties under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, the Narcotics Profit Forfeiture Act, the Cannabis Control Act, and the Drug Asset Forfeiture Procedure Act;

4. providing trial assistance to State's Attorneys and serving as Special Prosecutor when duly appointed by a court having jurisdiction with a court order stating the statutory provisions;

5. assisting State's Attorneys in the trial and appeal of tax objection cases;

6. conducting training programs for State's Attorneys and law enforcement personnel, including programs to reduce trauma for child witnesses in criminal proceedings; and

7. providing a legal intern program.

The State's Attorneys retain exclusive control of appeals originating in their respective counties, as well as the authority to control all documents in each individual case. The agency files no documents in the reviewing courts until they are approved by the State's Attorneys otherwise responsible for prosecuting the appeal.

The participation of the State's Attorney in the program is completely voluntary. Counties that agree to participate are required to assist with the costs of the agency through payment of county contributions. Each county's portion is determined annually by the agency's Board of Governors and is based on population.

The agency is governed by a Board of Governors consisting of 10 State's Attorneys. The Cook County State's Attorney is a permanent member by statute, eight State's Attorneys are elected annually, and the 10th member is appointed each year by the other nine members.