The Partner | May 2022
Lake County Police Memorial
On Friday, May 13th, the annual Lake County Police Memorial was held in Lincoln Plaza along with the Lake County IL Sheriff's Office. This service honored the ultimate sacrifice that officers have made in the line of duty and recognized the loved ones they left behind. We continually salute all the dedicated officers that, day in and day out, put their lives on the line to serve and protect the communities, businesses, and residents of Lake County.
Meet the Team - Holly Kerr
Hi, I’m Holly Kerr and I became involved with the CJCC from its inception as a community member representing the Coalition to Reduce Recidivism. I became the head of the Data Committee, but the majority of my work has been as a member, and then Co-lead, of the Equity Team. Funded through the Safety and Justice Challenge, our goal was to determine a process or procedure that, if changed, could safely lead to a reduction in the jail population and, more importantly, a reduction in the racial disparity in the jail. The Equity Team chose to work on examining “Failure to Appear” (FTA). Because a warrant could be issued if someone fails to appear, and they could end up in jail The Equity Team has been working on problem solving these issues and exploring some potential options. This is very exciting work for me. I am not a lawyer, so I have both learned a great deal and have enjoyed working with the people who make things happen and who want to make Lake County a safer and more just place to live.
Memorial Day Traffic Safety Campaign
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office will participate in the Memorial Day Traffic Safety Campaign from May 13 through May 31, 2022. During this time, additional sheriff’s deputies will be patrolling our roadways, reminding drivers to slow down and buckle-up.
Memorial Day weekend marks the unofficial start of summer, a popular time for traveling to visit family and friends. Whether you are traveling down the block or across the country, make sure you buckle up every time. Wearing a seat belt can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 45%. Seat belts save lives every day, but they’re only effective if they’re used.
While Illinois currently has a 93.5% seat belt use compliance rate, unbelted occupants still account for more than half of those killed in motor vehicle crashes. The simple click of a seat belt could save thousands of lives each year.
The “Click It or Ticket” campaign is administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation with federal highway safety funds.
Join the Discussion – CJCC Quarterly Meeting
The next Criminal Justice Community Council meeting is coming up on Wednesday, June 15th at 6:00PM CST. Register here to join the discussion and let your voice be heard!
DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day
At the end of April, Lake County had the opportunity to participate in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. Drug Enforcement Administration is committed to making communities safer and healthier by way of reducing overdoses and overdose deaths. Many of the strategies that the CJCC champions are for the desired outcome of safe and equitable treatment in our communities. It is our belief that campaigns and partnerships such as this push us further into success in achieving such a fate. The results of the April Take Back campaign are as follows:
Total Law Enforcement Participation: 4,427
Total Collection Sites: 5,144
Total Weight Collected: 721,093 lbs. (360 Tons)
Total Weight All Time: 15,989,566 lbs. (7,995 Tons)
For more information on the Drug Enforcement Administration and future DEA events, please visit www.dea.gov/takebackday
You can help inform and engage the community about this work by forwarding this newsletter to three friends and encouraging them to sign up here.
The Safety and Justice Challenge strategies at Lake County, IL are proudly led and supported by:
Lake County Sheriff's Office
Lake County State's Attorney Office
19th Judicial Circuit Court
Lake County Public Defender's Office
Nicasa Behavioral Health Services
This project was created with support from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation as part of the Safety and Justice Challenge, which seeks to reduce over-incarceration by changing the way America thinks about and uses jails.