March 9, 2020

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Senior Services of Will County at its annual meeting March 9. The longest-serving Will County State’s Attorney, Glasgow was recipient of the award for contributions to the community spanning nearly three decades.

“Serving as State’s Attorney has given me the incredible opportunity to help those who are the most vulnerable in our communities – including our seniors, who are victims of crimes ranging from physical abuse to financial fraud by criminals who prey on the elderly,” Glasgow said. “As someone who was adopted at birth, I understand firsthand the importance of a sense of community and of reaching out to help others. That’s why I have stressed not only prosecution, but counseling and rehabilitative services, and have worked closely with members of our community to find creative solutions to help address the challenges faced by vulnerable people who need our help.”

A few of Glasgow’s initiatives contributions to the Will County community include:

· Will County Children’s Advocacy Center. Glasgow fought to establish the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center in 1995. Currently celebrating its 25th anniversary year, the CAC has helped nearly 9,800 physically and sexually abused children since its inception.

· Will County Problem Solving Courts. To help provide defendants a second chance, Glasgow wrote and obtained the grants spearheading the creation of the Will County Drug and Adult Redeploy Illinois Courts, petitioned the court for the formation of the Will County Veterans Court, and along with former Chief Judge Gerald Kinney established the Mental Health Court in 2010.

· Unprecedented Residential Facilities for Problem Solving Court Participants. State’s Attorney Glasgow has established three residential facilities to help Problem Solving Court participants on the path to reentry: the Miller Taylor House and Julie Ann House, which provide temporary housing; and the Connor Kelly Residence, which provides longer-term transitional housing.

· Animal Cruelty, Abuse, and Neglect Initiative. Recognizing that violence against humans often begins with animal cruelty and neglect, Glasgow established the League of Extraordinary Canines & Friends as a countywide initiative designed to combat animal cruelty and abuse. Glasgow received a national award as one of the nation’s Top Ten Animal Defenders for 2020 from the Animal Legal Defense Fund for his work in establishing the League.

· Needed Transportation to Assist At-Risk Youth. Using money forfeited by criminals and in partnership with the local business community, Glasgow donated vehicles at no cost to taxpayers to the Veterans Assistance Commission, Boys & Girls Club of Joliet, the Spanish Community Center, and the Forest Park Community Center. He also provided the “Hidden in Plain Sight” vehicle and trailer to the Heroin Epidemic Relief Organization to educate parents on where teens may hide drugs and alcohol in their own homes.

“It is especially meaningful for me to receive this recognition from Senior Services of Will County, an organization that enriches the lives of seniors throughout Will County and works with selfless dedication to ensure our seniors receive the assistance they need in all facets of their daily life,” Glasgow said. “I look forward to working with Senior Services as it expands to its new facility in Romeoville. We are in discussions exploring how our office can further assist our seniors by joining forces with Senior Services at this location.

”Senior Services of Will County’s Executive Director Barry Kolanowski presented Glasgow with the award at the organization’s annual meeting. Glasgow was introduced by Will County Auditor Duffy Blackburn. Each year, the Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual over the age of 60 who has provided a lifetime of service while continuing to be engaged in the community.

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February 20, 2020

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow has been named one of “American’s Top Ten Animal Defenders” by the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF), a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through our legal system. The ALDF is supported by more than 250,000 members nationwide.

Each year, the ALDF recognizes officials who have done outstanding work to make their communities safer for animals during its National Justice for Animals Week – which this year takes place from February 23 through 29.

“I am honored to receive this significant award from the groundbreaking Animal Legal Defense Fund, a leading nationwide nonprofit that each and every day advocates on behalf of animals and protects them from cruelty and abuse,” Glasgow said. “All too often, our animal cruelty laws fail to recognize that animals, like humans, are sentient beings – capable of experiencing pain, stress, and fear. Our animal cruelty laws need to be retooled with this in mind. We need to be able to intervene when animals are suffering, even though they may be able to stoically endure and survive. I look forward to amending our current statutes on animal abuse and cruelty to make that possible.”

According to Glasgow, investigating and prosecuting animal abuse and neglect helps humans as well as animal companions.

“As St. Francis of Assisi recognized more than 900 years ago, those who would deny any creature the shelter of pity and compassion would do likewise to fellow humans. These words were remarkable given that they were made during one of the most violent times in human history, and they remain true today, “Glasgow said.

According to Glasgow, “[t]he link between abuse to animals and violence against humans is undisputed. Addressing animal abuse many times leads to uncovering situations involving abuse or neglect of individuals in that home. Protecting animals helps to protect all of us. That is one reason I formed the League of Extraordinary Canines & Friends – a countywide initiative designed to combat animal cruelty and abuse through advocacy, communications, cooperative efforts with animal humane and rescue organizations, the specialized animal protection unit in the State’s Attorney’s office, the law enforcement community, and all local units of government.”

In choosing Glasgow to receive the national award, the ALDF stated that “[a]nimal victims of abuse cannot speak for themselves, so caring individuals in the criminal justice system must speak up for them. Founding the League of Extraordinary Canines & Friends in 2019 is but one example of your effective compassion and dedication to recognizing and addressing animal abuse crimes in your community.”

In addition to establishing the League of Extraordinary Canines & Friends to address animal abuse, Glasgow:

• Established an Animal Protection Unit in the State’s Attorney’s office to work with our law enforcement community on prosecuting animal abuse and neglect cases.

• Wrote Illinois’ 1999 Animal Torture Statute creating the State’s first criminal felony charge for animal cruelty, and in light of the strong link between cruelty to animals and violence against humans, mandating a psychiatric evaluation upon conviction to diagnose and treat propensity for violence against humans.

• Annually hosts an ASPCA seminar, as well as additional community forums, to educate our community about the critical importance of recognizing and reporting animal cruelty and abuse.

Glasgow was presented the award at the February 20, 2020, Will County Board meeting. County Board Member Herbert Brooks and Terri Crotty, Founder and Owner of Wags 2 Wishes Rescue, offered remarks before presenting the plaque to Glasgow on behalf of the ALDF. 

The ALDF’s National Justice for Animals Week is dedicated to raising awareness about animal abuse and urging law enforcement, prosecutors, and lawmakers to protect our animals and our communities from abusers. The theme for this year’s National Justice for Animal Week is “Fighting Animal Cruelty, Honoring Animal Victims.”

February 7, 2020

JOLIET – Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow and Will County Chief Judge Richard Schoenstedt today announced a cooperative effort between the State’s Attorney’s Office and the Will County Twelfth Judicial Circuit, along with the assistance of Will County Circuit Clerk Andrea Lynn Chasteen, to vacate and expunge cannabis cases eligible for automatic expungement under the new Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (HB 1438), which took effect January 1, 2020.

Under the new law legalizing recreational cannabis use and sales, expungement is automatic for cases involving possession of less than 30 grams of cannabis. The Illinois State Police, Prisoner Review Board, and Illinois Attorney General are required by the statute to identify and expunge eligible low-level cannabis offense records, arrests, charges, and/or convictions according to the following:

• January 1, 2021, for offenses occurring between January 1, 2013, and January 1, 2020.

• January 1, 2023, for offenses occurring between January 1, 2000, and January 1, 2013.

• January 1, 2025, for offenses occurring before January 1, 2000.

The statute also gives Illinois State’s Attorneys the authority to expedite the expungement process by filing a motion to vacate and expunge eligible offenses.  State’s Attorney Glasgow and Chief Judge Schoenstedt have agreed to a motion to vacate and expunge simple, low-level cannabis possession cases under this provision.

“Our motion will expedite the process created under state statute, assist our law enforcement community, and provide certainty early on to individuals who may be unsure about the status of their prior low-level cannabis possession cases,” Glasgow said. “Having written Will County’s original Drug Court grant way back in 1998, I have always believed that those who are victims of drug abuse must be treated in a fair, just, and compassionate manner. This motion allows these individuals to finally put these convictions permanently behind them and to get on with their lives.”

Glasgow said he anticipates filing a motion in March that will apply to all low-level cannabis possession cases involving offenses between January 1, 2013 and January 1, 2020 eligible for automatic expungement. He also anticipates addressing low-level cannabis possession cases from earlier years in a subsequent motion.

“Streamlining the process for individuals for whom the question was not if, but simply when, their records will be expunged serves everyone – the judicial system, law enforcement, and those individuals eligible for expungement of their cases,” Judge Schoenstedt said. “We recognize the importance of restorative justice in Will County, and this joint effort is one example of working cooperatively in our community to assist those who need it most.”

Chief Judge Schoenstedt has agreed to sign an order approving Glasgow’s motion.

Although the Act also gives authority to expunge class 4 felony and misdemeanor cannabis delivery offenses, State’s Attorney Glasgow will only be filing a motion to vacate and expunge simple cannabis possession cases that are not associated with felony charges or offenses outlined by the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act.  After the motion to vacate and expunge is filed and approved, all defendants who have had their cases expunged will be notified by the Will County Circuit Clerk’s Office by mail.