Lake County Gazette

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart presented his annual report to the Law & Judicial Committee of the Lake County Board July 30. Since 2020, Rinehart has provided crime statistics to the Committee while detailing new programs and budgetary needs. This year, he also discussed how the SAFE-T Act permits prosecutors to hold dangerous offenders prior to trial.

“With increased law enforcement resources, innovative community programs, and expanded victim support, the Lake County justice and safety system is working together to prevent crime and hold offenders accountable. We are seeing a significant decrease in violent crime across all communities even as we strive to prevent every incident,” Rinehart said at the committee’s public hearing.

Rinehart presented data showing a 55% decrease in homicides between 2022 and 2023. He noted that 2022 included four mass casualty events, such as the Highland Park parade shooting which claimed seven lives and three domestic violence incidents resulting in eight deaths.

In 2023, there were 24 homicides in Lake County—the lowest total in at least seven years. As of July 30, 2024, there have been ten homicides in Lake County this year—a 29% decrease from the same date in 2023. However, Rinehart stated, “This reduction is not enough. Our goal is to be a county that reaches zero homicides.”

Law enforcement agencies reported a 44% reduction in non-fatal firearm injuries between 2022 and 2023 in Waukegan, North Chicago, and Zion.

Rinehart highlighted law enforcement efforts and the Gun Violence Prevention Initiative: “Clearance rates are moving up because of the hard work of law enforcement and increased use of technology. Our forensic cyber lab continues to increase its capabilities due to a grant we secured in 2021. This allows us to search phones of shooters, armed robbers, and sex offenders.”

He also addressed efforts related to the opioid crisis: “I am proud of the work of the Lake County Opioid Initiative, Health Department, and community partners like NIRCO for saving lives with expanded treatment and harm reduction strategies.” He added that since 2022 they have increased law enforcement training regarding opioid poisoning deaths.

Rinehart concluded by discussing preliminary data on the SAFE-T Act which went into effect on September 18, 2023: “The new system lets us hold the most dangerous offenders without having to worry about them posting cash. Under this system our outstanding prosecutors are successfully detaining sex offenders, domestic abusers, and weapon offenders—and those offenders are staying in jail at much higher percentages than under the cash system.”