Devine and CABN
From Cook County State's Attorney Richard A. Devine, 500 Richard J. Daley Center, Chicago, 60602.
Dear Editor:
At last week's Pride Parade, a contingent of protesters disrupted the parade to call attention to what they see as inaction on the part of our office concerning claims of police brutality against the G/L/B/T community. The protesters cited specific cases that they felt warranted prosecutorial action against the law enforcement officers allegedly involved. Unfortunately, I am prohibited from discussing specific cases or investigations, but I would like to take this opportunity to clarify my record and position on issues affecting this community.
Shortly after taking office, it became clear to us that the way excessive force allegations against law enforcement officers had been handled in the past was inadequate. Most prosecutors work closely with law enforcement. In the past, some concerns had been raised that this working relationship made it difficult for those prosecutors to handle claims of misconduct by law enforcement officers in an impartial fashion.
To alleviate these concerns, in 1999 I created the Professional Standards Unit, made up of experienced prosecutors who exclusively handle investigations and prosecutions involving law enforcement. This unit has brought charges against three sheriff's deputies accused of killing an inmate in the Bridgeview courthouse lockup and charged five other sheriff's policemen with shooting at a black couple in the southern suburbs. We are not reluctant to press charges against law enforcement officers if that is where the evidence leads us.
This unit has already reviewed and evaluated the available evidence in the cases brought forward by the CABN protesters. I have personally instructed the head of this unit to reexamine the evidence in the cases to make sure that no stone is left unturned. I have also instructed her to invite the principals in those cases to come forward with any new information or evidence that we have not had access to. I assure you that if the evidence is there, I will not hesitate to prosecute the perpetrators, regardless of their affiliation with law enforcement. I have shown my willingness to do so in the past and will continue to do so. I am very proud of my record of support for the GLBT community. I am also grateful for the support I have received from responsible members of this community and this office's G/L/B/T Advisory Council.
We have led the nation in the development of progressive Hate Crimes policies. Our Prosecutors Guide to Hate Crimes has been used by the U.S. Department of Justice and countless jurisdictions across the country to train prosecutors and law enforcement on handling hate crimes.
After Benjamin Smith's rampage two years ago, I revamped the way our office handles hate crimes. The Community Prosecutions Unit, created at the beginning of our administration to address crimes and problems in the communities where they happen, was expanded and given responsibility for prosecuting all hate crimes. By moving these prosecutions into the community, those affected by hate crimes can have a deeper involvement in the cases, and we are better able to respond to the needs of targeted communities.
In addition, I have proposed changes to the Illinois Hate Crimes Act to strengthen what is already one of the strongest laws in the country that protect targeted minorities. I proposed creating a new charge of Conspiracy Against Civil Rights that would allow us to bring felony charges against individuals who encourage others to commit hate crimes as well as other changes to clarify the provisions of the existing law. The bill has twice passed the Illinois House of Representatives and is awaiting action in the Illinois Senate. I am committed to continuing to seek passage of this important initiative.
We have been leaders in recognizing the importance of addressing same-sex domestic violence. We have a GLBT Victim Witness Specialist in Domestic Violence Court, and she has been working closely with other community groups to expand resources for victims of same-sex domestic violence through GLBT Shelter Chicago. We also have held a series of training sessions to help business owners and employees of businesses serving the community recognize and address both domestic violence and hate crimes in the GLBT community.
We are also committed to creating a welcoming workplace for all. For the first time in the history of the office, we have recruited from the G/L/B/T community and will continue to expand these efforts in the future to build a State's Attorney's Office that is truly reflective of the communities we serve.
I have made myself and my staff accessible to all who wish to bring issues to our attention in a responsible way. I am willing to listen to and work with anyone who is interested in putting aside hype and outside agendas, so that we can work together to improve the quality of life for the people of Cook County, no matter their sexual orientation, race, or creed.
