Lake County Law and Judicial Committee Meeting - June 2, 2026

The Lake County Law and Judicial Committee met on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 10:30 AM. Vice Chair Roberts presided in the absence of Chair Cunningham. The meeting included approvals of a consent agenda, joint resolutions for jail services, grants, and document scanning, and annual updates from the Coroner, Circuit Clerk, and State's Attorney. All votes were unanimous.

Consent Calendar

• Items 8.1 through 8.4 were approved unanimously with a motion by Member Altenberg and a second by Member Peterson.

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were made.

Coroner’s Annual Update (Item 8.5)

• Coroner Jennifer Bannett and Chief Deputy Steven Newton reported on 2025 activities. Total deaths decreased from 5,634 in 2024 to 5,249 in 2025. Cases requiring further investigation fell from 631 to 614. Each of the eight deputy coroners conducts approximately 78 investigations per year.
• The largest preventable death decrease was suicides, down 23% from the previous year – a larger drop than the nationwide 10% decrease. Opioid overdose fatalities in 2025 were in the 50s; through April 2026, the office recorded about 31 deaths (annualized to under 100, up from 2025 but still below previous trends).
• Case closure within 60 days: 86.31%. The office received full reaccreditation from the International Association for Coroners and Medical Examiners with a 100% score in both categories.
• The Coroner chairs suicide prevention and overdose task forces. A new overdose fatality review board with IDPH has begun case reviews. Community engagements number 35–40 per year.
• The Missing Pieces partnership provides grief support referrals for families of decedents aged 24 or younger. Chief Deputy Newton will present the county’s framework at the IACME conference in July at no cost to the county.
• Overtime expenses decreased to ~$4,300 in 2025 (from ~$60,000 pre‑2020). Revenue is generated via cremation permits and lab services (with a planned $1.50 per test increase). A second ecumenical burial for indigent individuals is planned.
• Committee members thanked the office for its community engagement and collaboration.

Joint Resolution: Inmate Phone, Video Visitation, Tablet, and Mail Scanning Contract (Item 8.6)

• The committee approved a contract renewal with ViaPath Technologies (Global Tech Link Corporation) for Lake County Jail services. The current contract expires August 2026 with no change in equipment, operations, or pricing. An on‑site technician is included. Tablets are available one‑to‑one. Inmates receive one half‑hour free remote visit per week; additional visits cost $0.19/minute. Non‑legal mail is scanned and reviewed by correctional officers before delivery; legal mail is handled in‑house.
• Discussion confirmed that on‑site visitation has not been offered for over ten years; the public prefers remote visits.
• Motion by Member Kinesnik, second by Member Altenburg. Passed unanimously.

Joint Resolution: Law Enforcement Camera Grant (Item 8.7)

• The committee accepted a $54,434 grant from the Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board for reimbursement of previously budgeted body camera expenses. Funds will be returned to the general fund.
• Motion by Member Dan Ford, second by Member Aldenberg. Passed unanimously.

Joint Resolution: Digital Document Scanning Services for Circuit Clerk (Item 8.8)

• A one‑year agreement with renewal options was approved with CO‑File Technologies for scanning microfilm records. Estimated annual costs: $400,000 in year one and approximately $300,000 in subsequent years. The Circuit Clerk’s office has scanned over 107 million documents and aims to eliminate microfilm.
• Motion by Member Kinesnik, second by Member Kyle. Passed unanimously.

Circuit Clerk’s Annual Update (Item 8.9)

• Circuit Clerk Aaron Cartwright‑Weinstein presented the annual update. The office oversees five courthouses, three traffic courts, and juvenile and Vernon Hills locations. Civil e‑filing is in place; criminal e‑filing is expected within 60 days.
• In 2025, the office processed 1,349,104 documents, handled 27,096 credit card transactions totaling $7.1 million, and disbursed $20,279,070.14 to municipalities, the state, and other agencies.
• New initiatives include e‑certify for online certified documents, e‑citation to reduce manual data entry, an AI pilot for quality control, and a new credit card processor with a 2.35% fee plus $1 minimum. Discussion addressed traffic court volumes and efforts to repurpose staff to assist attorneys.
• No formal vote was required; the committee thanked the clerk.

Joint Resolution: Firearm Restraining Order Implementation Support Grant (Item 8.10)

• The committee accepted a $900,000 grant from the Brian State Crisis Intervention Program to support Firearm Restraining Order (FRO) implementation. Funds support an FRO trainer, an FRO navigator, and public awareness campaigns.
• State’s Attorney Eric Reinhardt reported that FROs entered into LEADS increased from 4 in 2019 to 101 in 2025, ahead of the state per capita. He credited law enforcement training and partnerships. Committee members discussed evidentiary differences between FROs and civil orders of protection, with State’s Attorney’s office staff explaining the advantages of the FRO process in emergency settings.
• Motion by Member Kyle, second by Member Kinesnik. Passed unanimously.

Joint Resolution: Firearm Restraining Order Compliance and Enforcement Grant (Item 8.11)

• The committee approved a $500,000 grant from the Brian State Crisis Intervention Program for FRO enforcement. Funds cover operational supplies (gun safes, literature) and overtime reimbursement for up to 15 law enforcement agencies (up to $5,000 per incident). The contract is under legal review.
• Motion by Member Kyle, second by Member Altenberg. Passed unanimously.

State’s Attorney’s Annual Update (Item 8.12)

• State’s Attorney Eric Reinhardt presented the 2025 annual report. His office prosecuted 783 cases (including 266 misdemeanor DUIs and over 13,000 traffic matters). Staff totals 159 (84 attorneys, 75 non‑attorneys), with 19% grant‑funded.
• New position requests over three years added a financial crimes ASA (2023), a domestic violence ASA (2024), and 50% support for the Gun Violence Prevention Initiative (GVP) (2025). The financial crimes unit has handled over $5 million in losses and built a cryptocurrency seizure protocol.
• Domestic violence accounts for 20–30% of county murders; the additional ASA reduced caseload by 18%.
• The GVP Initiative has contributed to: a 21% decrease in countywide firearm homicides (2022–2025), a 33% decrease in Zion, Waukegan, and North Chicago, a 74% decrease in non‑fatal shootings, a 66% decrease in gunfire detected by ShotSpotter in North Chicago, and reduced emergency room visits for gunshot wounds.
• The office operates three diversion programs (alternative prosecution with courts, internal diversion, and gun diversion with GRO) to treat nonviolent offenders early.
• Reinhardt announced $1.5 million in new state funding for the GVP Initiative, received two nights prior.
• Committee members praised the holistic collaborative approach and urged continued investment.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda (items 8.1–8.4) approved unanimously.
• Inmate service contract with ViaPath (8.6) approved unanimously.
• Law enforcement camera grant (8.7) accepted unanimously.
• Document scanning contract with CO‑File (8.8) approved unanimously.
• FRO implementation grant (8.10) accepted unanimously.
• FRO enforcement grant (8.11) accepted unanimously.
• The reports from the Coroner, Circuit Clerk, and State’s Attorney were received and discussed; no formal votes were required.