Title
Joint resolution authorizing the acceptance and execution of a Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) grant awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) to the Illinois Innocence Project (IIP) to partner with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office to reduce, through DNA testing, the number of wrongful convictions within Lake County, including an emergency appropriation of $91,730 in federal funds, if awarded.
Staff Summary
• The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office is the recipient of a Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) grant through the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA). The Illinois Innocence Project submitted the application for funding.
• The grant term is for two years, starting October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2023.
• 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.
• The IIP has two decades of experience and success in evaluating and investigating postconviction cases, resulting in the exoneration of 20 innocent individuals. Partnering together, both agencies hope to restore community trust in the justice system through transparency and integrity.
• First year program funding of $91,730 is allocated to the LCSAO. This includes 55 percent of salary and fringe for a Conviction Integrity Unit Director, who is an experienced attorney that currently serves as Chief of the Rehabilitative Services Unit in the LCSAO. In addition, 40 percent of the salary for a paralegal and computer equipment for this position will also be funded. No match is required for this award.
• If funding for these positions and services end, and new funding is not secured, the positions and services will be eliminated.
Body
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) posted a notice of funding opportunity for a Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) grant for the term of two years, starting October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2023; and
WHEREAS, the Illinois Innocence Project (IIP) submitted an application to reduce the high incidence of wrongful convictions within Lake County by partnering with the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office (LCSAO) as subgrantee. First year federal program funding of $91,730 includes 55 percent of salary and fringe for a CIU Director, 40 percent of salary for a paralegal and computer equipment for this position; and
WHEREAS, if awarded the federal grant amount of $91,730, it will be necessary to appropriate this amount; and
WHEREAS, the State’s Attorney’s Office recommends that the Chairman of the
County Board, the State’s Attorney and the Treasurer be authorized to execute the necessary documents accept and execute the grant, if awarded; and
WHEREAS, if funding for these positions and services end, and new funding is not secured, the positions and services will be eliminated.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by this County Board of Lake County,
Illinois, that the acceptance and execution of a Conviction Integrity Unit grant for the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office, for the period of October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2023, is hereby authorized; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if awarded, an emergency appropriation in the amount of $91,730 is hereby authorized for the CIU grant in expenditure and revenue accounts to be determined by the controller; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the State’s Attorney shall serve as project director for the program, and accurate records of all necessary grant compliance requirements shall be kept by the State’s Attorney Office; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Chairman 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 award.
DATED at Waukegan, Illinois on January 11, 2022.