Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow Elected President of Illinois State’s Attorneys Association
January 15, 2021
Joliet – Will County State’s Attorney James W. Glasgow was sworn in today as President of the Illinois State’s Attorneys Association by his fellow State’s Attorneys. Glasgow was unanimously elected to the position by his colleagues.
“I am honored to have been chosen by my fellow State’s Attorneys for this important position in the Association,” Glasgow said. “As prosecutors, our job is to represent all people in the State of Illinois. We will continue working to ensure our criminal justice system functions effectively, whether through the prosecution of dangerous criminals or diversionary programs that help give at-risk individuals a second chance.”
The Illinois State’s Attorneys Association is a bipartisan organization comprised of all elected State’s Attorneys throughout the State of Illinois, whose purpose is to promote the orderly administration of justice and the enforcement of the law. Although the incoming President typically is announced at the Association’s annual conference, the event was cancelled this year in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Glasgow will serve a one-year term as the Association’s President. He currently is serving an unprecedented seventh term as Will County State’s Attorney. Among noteworthy cases, Glasgow successfully prosecuted Drew Peterson for the murder of his third wife in a landmark case that attracted international attention. Peterson is serving a 38-year sentence, along with an additional consecutive 40-year sentence for soliciting the murder for hire of State’s Attorney Glasgow. Glasgow also obtained the conviction of Christopher Vaughn who was sentenced to four consecutive life terms in prison for the murders of his wife and three children.
“In addition to prosecuting criminals, I have made it a mission of my Office to zealously reach out to and protect the most vulnerable members of our community,” Glasgow said. “This Office has an unsurpassed record of launching creative and highly successful initiatives that support our law enforcement community, make our neighborhoods safer, and provide needed support to at-risk individuals looking to become productive members of society.”
Glasgow’s numerous pioneering initiatives include:
· Spearheading each of the Will County’s four Problem Solving Courts that give at-risk defendants another chance.
· Establishing three unprecedented residential facilities to provide a support system for Problem Solving Court participants, including most recently the Connor Kelly residence which opened in 2019 to provide longer-term transitional housing.
· Creating the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center 25 years ago to provide hope, healing, and justice to abused children.
· Pioneering Will County’s first comprehensive Domestic Violence Protocol; working closely with the Chief Judge to establish Will County’s first specialized Domestic Violence Court; and forming a specialized Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit in the State’s Attorney’s Office.
· Drafting groundbreaking legislation ranging from Illinois’ Animal Torture Statute creating the first felony charge in the State for the abuse of animals, to “Rebecca’s Law” strengthening penalties for abusers who torture their victims.
· Creating The League of Extraordinary Canines & Friends in 2019 as a countywide initiative to compassionately address animal abuse and neglect while at the same time focusing attention on individuals who also are more likely to harm other humans. Glasgow also has provided drug-detection K9s to local law enforcement throughout Will County, including eight municipalities and the Sheriff’s Office, through the use of forfeiture funds and at no cost to taxpayers.
“I appreciate the confidence of my colleagues in selecting me to serve in this important position for the Association. I will work in partnership with my fellow State’s Attorneys throughout Illinois to continue providing the highest quality of services to our citizens.”
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