Jamie Mosser: 2024 candidate for Kane County state’s attorney

Bio

Party: Democrat

Office Sought: Kane County state’s attorney

City: St. Charles

Age: 47

Occupation: Kane County State's Attorney; Adjunct Professor

Previous offices held: Kane County State's Attorney since 2020

Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election for the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you? If so, what?

I ran for state's attorney as I wanted to bring true criminal justice reform to Kane County. There are people who choose to make our community unsafe and are beyond rehabilitation or redemption.

We need to focus our prosecutorial resources on them to ensure that they go to jail or prison. With that being said, most people enter our system based on untreated mental health, substance use disorder, or a lack of resources.

These individuals should not be considered “bad” but rather be looked at for rehabilitation. Every case should be evaluated individually and we need to ask why they committed the crime.

When prosecutors find the why for the criminal behavior, we are statistically more likely to help them get the treatment and resources to get away from criminal behavior. As the state's attorney, I have been able to create a system that looks at these cases fairly, holds individuals accountable and protects victim's rights. This approach has created less victims and lowered recidivism.

If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of any important initiatives you've led. If you are a challenger, what would you bring to the board and what would your priority be?

First, I expanded deferred prosecution programs and created Illinois' first pre-arrest diversion program. These programs hold people accountable while giving them access to resources and treatment. Additionally, I helped to create our fourth specialty court — DUI Rehabilitative Court — that helps high risk-high need offenders.

Second, I created vertical prosecution units to focus on specific criminal behavior to have consistent and quicker resolutions. Included in this was creating a child exploitation unit that investigates and prosecutes child pornography cases that were not being addressed by police departments that lacked the resources.

Third, I obtained pay parity for my employees so they were properly compensated for their work. Lastly, I expanded the amount of employees at the office so that they have workable case loads.

Both the increase in pay and reduced caseload has stopped employees from leaving the office for higher paying jobs both within and outside of public service.

What crime should be the office’s top target? Drugs? Gang violence? Child sex abuse? Something else? Why? What steps will you take to address the priorities as you see them?

Domestic Violence (DV) should be the office's top target for prosecution. The Illinois Coalition Against Domestic Violence stated that domestic homicides increased 110% in 2023. Cases of DV, including nonlethal strangulation, also continue to increase.

Statistically, the majority of the people in our system have witnessed or been subjected to DV. A child that witnesses DV is more likely to be a victim or an abuser. With proper intervention for both abusers and victims, we can lessen recidivism, break the cycle of violence and reduce substance use issues.

I have proposed the creation of three domestic violence courtrooms where the judge, prosecutor and public defenders will focus on proper intervention and rehabilitation.

Included in this would be assessing the risk level of the offender and providing direct services to victims and their children. With these specialized courtrooms, we can get abusers to treatment quicker which means the safety of the victim is prioritized.

Describe your position regarding the allocation of resources in the state's attorney's office. Are personnel allocated as they should be? Are there capital expenses or other budgetary items that the office must address, and, if so, how do you propose to address them?

I have spent the last almost four years assessing the state’s attorney’s office and our resources. I quickly came to the conclusion that we were under resourced. We have moved attorneys into vertical prosecution units based on the crime trends.

When we saw an increase in crime, I petitioned the county board for additional resources increasing the staff to adequately prosecute these matters and to defend the county in civil matters. When unfunded mandates, like the SAFE-T Act was passed, I petitioned not only the county board but also the state for funding to meet our legal obligations.

Additionally, I have obtained grants and other funding to supplement the state’s attorney’s office's budget when possible like the SAFE-T Act requirement to have pre-arrest programming.

We also need additional technology to investigate and prosecute drug dealing, child pornography, and homicide cases. I have applied for federal grants to provide this important technology to alleviate any future tax payer burden for the county.

Name one concrete program you’ll create or personnel move you’ll make to improve efficiency in the office or make it more successful. Explain how it will be funded and how you will overcome any obstacles to initiating it.

The majority of cases in Kane County are DUI, domestic violence, and drug offenses. Statistics show that alcoholism, drug addiction and trauma comprise the root causes of the majority of these cases. Left untreated, these conditions are chronic and progressive, and we then see repeat offenders.

Almost every program I have created in the last four years has been directed at uncovering theses root causes of criminal behavior and proactively addressing them at the proper stage for intervention.

By working with our judges to create new courtrooms that focus on these three particular offenses, we will be addressing the bulk of these offenders before their behaviors become more destructive.

We are planning to utilize existing staff to provide these services and offset additional costs through probation fees. Ultimately, by offering these proactive services, we will be able to provide proper treatment and intervention to stop the criminal behavior while protecting victims and the community at large.