Title
Resolution authorizing the use of allocated funds specifically dedicated to implementation of the SAFE-T Act for a new K10 Principal Assistant Attorney position in the Felony Review Division in the State’s Attorney’s Office and two new K5 Probation Officers for Pretrial Services in the 19th Judicial Circuit Courts and approving a line-item transfer within the SAFE-T Act funding to provide the budget for these positions for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024.
Staff Summary
• State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart’s Office submitted a request for a new K10 Felony Attorney position due to increased workload since the implementation of the SAFE-T Act in September 2023. The request is based on timelines in the detention process. Detailed information is included in the State’s Attorney’s request memo attached. This K10 Felony Attorney was not originally authorized in the initial SAFE-T Act funding, but there is funding remaining to accommodate the request if approved.
• Chief Judge Daniel Shanes and the 19th Judicial Circuit Court submitted a request for two probation officers for increased pretrial services resulting from the SAFE-T Act. Detailed information is included in the Chief Judge’s request memo attached. The Courts have already hired two of the four positions originally requested and this request is to fill the other two funded positions. Sufficient funding remains for this request.
• Due to the overlap with the Fiscal Year 2025 budget preparation process, these positions will automatically be funded as part of the Fiscal Year 2025 budget because there will not be time for analysis of justifying data, workload, and operational efficiency to warrant the continuation of the positions.
• This action will increase the headcount in the two departments accordingly. A line-item transfer is necessary because the SAFE-T Act funding was centralized in the contractual services expense category, and it must be allocated to the appropriate categories for personnel expenses.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, as a result of Public Act 101-0652, the Illinois Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity - Today (SAFE-T) Act, which was passed in 2021 and went into effect in September 2023, the County Board dedicated funding for the additional staff and other expenses that would be necessary to implement the Act; and
WHEREAS, this funding has been used on an as needed basis and only after all like positions or other related budget within the department’s budget have been filled or exhausted; and
WHEREAS, the State’s Attorney’s Office has identified a need for an additional Principal Assistant Attorney and the Nineteenth Judicial Circuit has identified a need for two additional Probation Officer positions for Pre-Trial Services, using the funding specifically set aside for the implementation of the SAFE-T Act; and
WHEREAS, this resolution authorizes the reallocation of the funds within the set-aside SAFE-T Act budget to accommodate these positions through the attached line-item transfer.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the aforementioned positions are hereby authorized using the SAFE-T Act funds in the Fiscal Year 2024 budget and will be included as funded positions in the FY2025 budget; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the attached line-item transfer is hereby authorized to transfer the SAFE-T Act funding from the contractual expense category to the necessary personnel expense categories as indicated therein.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois on July 9, 2024.