Title
Joint resolution authorizing the acceptance and execution of a Bloodsworth grant awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to the Illinois Innocence Project (IIP) of which the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office (LCSAO) is subgrantee, to partner with the LCSAO to reduce the number of wrongful convictions within Lake County including an emergency appropriation of $245,327 in grant funds.
Staff Summary
• The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office (LCSAO) has been awarded a Bloodsworth grant of $245,327 through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) as subgrantee through the Illinois Innocence Project (IIP).
• The proposed one-year grant term is October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026.
• The Illinois Innocence Project (IIP), who will act as lead agency, seeks to collaborate with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office (LCSAO) as subgrantee, to support DNA casework and reduce the number of wrongful convictions, including litigating postconviction cases.
• LCSAO will use funds for the salary and fringe of a part-time (.5 FTE) Conviction Integrity Unit Director (position 41185), along with both a contracted paralegal and investigator, expert witness testimony and computer software.
• If funding for the positions and services end, and new funding is not secured, the positions and services will be eliminated.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office has been awarded a Bloodsworth grant as subgrantee to the Illinois Innocence Project (IIP), for the proposed time period of October 1, 2025, through September 30, 2026, in the amount of $245,327; and
WHEREAS, the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office will use this funding to continue to reduce wrongful convictions through collaboration with the Illinois Innocence Project; and
WHEREAS, the Bloodsworth Grant is in the amount of $245,327 and it is necessary to emergency appropriate this amount; and
WHEREAS, the State’s Attorney’s Office recommends that the Chair of the County Board, the State’s Attorney and the Treasurer be authorized to execute the necessary documents to accept and execute the grant.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County, Illinois, that the Bloodsworth Grant awarded to the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office by IIP is hereby accepted; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an emergency appropriation of $245,327 is hereby authorized for the Bloodsworth Grant in revenue and expenditure accounts as detailed in the attached chart of accounts; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the State’s Attorney shall serve as the project director for the program, and accurate records of all necessary grant compliance requirements shall be kept by the State’s Attorney’s Office; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chair of the Board, the Lake County State’s Attorney, and the Lake County Treasurer are hereby authorized to execute the necessary documentation in order to accept the grant renewal.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois, on January 13, 2026.