If you’re walking down County Street in Waukegan, you’ll pass the courthouse where the Lake County Illinois State's Attorney handles everything from petty theft to high-profile murder trials. Most people only think about this office when a "Law & Order" style headline hits the local news. But honestly? The day-to-day reality of the 19th Judicial Circuit is way more complex than a TV script.
It’s not just about locking people up.
Since Eric Rinehart took over the role in late 2020, the vibe of the office has shifted significantly. He was the first Democrat in decades to hold the seat, and that alone shook the local political foundations. Whether you’re a resident, a victim, or just someone following the legal drama in the northern suburbs, understanding how this office actually functions is pretty vital. It’s the engine room of the local justice system.
Who Actually Runs the Show?
Right now, Eric Rinehart is the guy in the big chair. He recently started a new term that runs through 2028. Before he was the one approving charges, he was a public defender and a private defense attorney. That’s a bit of a "poacher turned gamekeeper" situation, which definitely informs his approach to the job.
The office isn’t just one person, though. Not even close. We’re talking about a massive operation with over 140 employees. This includes:
- Assistant State's Attorneys (the ones you see in court).
- Victim advocates who help people navigate the terrifying legal maze.
- Investigators who dig into the gritty details police might miss.
- Administrative staff keeping the mountain of paperwork moving.
The Lake County Illinois State's Attorney is technically a constitutional officer. That means the job is actually mandated by the Illinois Constitution. They aren’t just a county employee; they represent the "People of the State of Illinois." That’s a heavy title to carry.
The "Safe-T Act" and the No-Cash Bail Reality
You can’t talk about Illinois law right now without mentioning the SAFE-T Act. It basically turned the legal world upside down by ending cash bail. Lake County was a huge testing ground for this.
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Before the change, if you had money, you could often buy your way out of jail while waiting for trial. If you were broke? You sat there. Now, the State’s Attorney has to file a "petition to detain." They have to prove to a judge that a defendant is a flight risk or a danger to a specific person or the community.
I’ve seen this play out in real-time. Just recently, in January 2026, the office moved to detain a man charged with attempted murder in Beach Park. The deputies did CPR and saved a woman's life, and then Rinehart’s team had to immediately pivot to the courtroom to ensure the suspect didn't walk out the door. It’s a high-stakes chess match every single morning in bond court (now called detention hearings).
Specialty Courts: A Different Kind of Justice
One thing people often get wrong is thinking every case ends in a prison sentence.
Lake County has been leaning hard into "Specialty Courts." These are basically "second chance" tracks for people whose crimes are rooted in mental health issues or addiction.
How It Works
Instead of the standard "guilty/not guilty" grind, these programs involve intensive supervision. If you’re in Drug Court, you’re seeing a judge constantly. You’re getting tested. You’re in treatment. If you finish, the charges might be dropped or reduced.
Karen Levi was recently promoted to Chief Deputy for Restorative Justice to oversee this stuff. It’s an acknowledgment that the "revolving door" of the county jail doesn't actually make Waukegan, Libertyville, or Gurnee any safer.
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The Violent Crimes and Cyber Units
While the "restorative" side is growing, the office hasn't exactly gone soft. They created a dedicated Violent Crimes Unit to handle the heaviest cases. This was a response to a spike in gun violence that hit the area after the pandemic.
They also have a Cyber Crimes Division. Think about it: almost every crime now has a digital footprint. Whether it's human trafficking or white-collar embezzlement, the evidence is usually on a phone or a server. The Lake County Illinois State's Attorney has invested a lot of grant money into their "cyber lab" so they don't have to wait months for federal agencies to help them out.
Transparency and the Data Dashboard
For a long time, the State’s Attorney’s office was a bit of a black box. You didn't really know who was being charged with what, or if there were racial disparities in how plea deals were handed out.
Now, there’s an actual Data Dashboard. You can go online and see the stats. It’s not perfect—data is only as good as the person entering it—but it’s a massive step away from the "trust us, we’re the experts" era. Rinehart’s team has made a point of tracking implicit bias and trying to match the office’s diversity to the county’s actual demographics.
Dealing with Law Enforcement
The relationship between a prosecutor and the police is... complicated.
They have to work together to win cases, but the State's Attorney also has to hold police accountable. We saw this with the case of Dante Salinas, a former Waukegan officer who was found guilty of official misconduct last year for punching a civilian.
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It's a tightrope. If the prosecutor is too close to the police, the public loses trust. If they’re too adversarial, cases fall apart because the "boots on the ground" stop communicating.
Common Misconceptions
Let's clear a few things up.
- "The State's Attorney is my lawyer." Nope. If you’re a victim, they represent the state, not you personally. They have to do what’s best for "justice," which usually aligns with what you want, but not always.
- "They control the police." Not really. They can’t tell the Sheriff or a local Police Chief how to run their department. They only control what happens once an arrest is made.
- "Every arrest leads to a trial." Almost never. Roughly 90-95% of cases are resolved through plea bargains. The court system would literally explode if every traffic ticket or shoplifting charge went to a jury.
Real Examples of the Work
Looking at the docket from just the last few months of 2025 and early 2026, you see the sheer variety of the workload:
- Human Trafficking: The office hosted a massive training for over 50 judges and prosecutors recently. It's a growing focus in the North Shore area.
- Domestic Violence: These are the most common cases. The "Domestic Battery/Strangulation" charges are some of the most dangerous, and the office has specific advocates just for these victims.
- Official Misconduct: Prosecuting "one of their own" or other government officials is rare but high-stakes.
Actionable Steps for Lake County Residents
If you live in the area or have business with the courthouse, here’s how to actually use this information:
- Check the Dashboard: If you’re worried about crime trends in your specific town, look at the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office (LCSAO) data portal. Don't rely on Nextdoor rumors.
- Victim Services: If you or someone you know is a victim of a crime, you don’t have to wait for the prosecutor to call you. You can proactively reach out to their Victim Services Division to find out your rights under "Marsy's Law."
- Expungement: If you have an old record that’s holding you back from a job, the office periodically holds "Expungement Summits." They actually help you clear eligible records so you can get back to work.
- Grand Jury Duty: If you get a summons, don’t just try to get out of it. The Grand Jury is the group that decides if there’s enough evidence to even bring a felony charge. It’s one of the few places where regular citizens have direct power over the Lake County Illinois State's Attorney.
The legal system in Lake County is a massive, shifting beast. It’s part politics, part social work, and part high-stakes litigation. Staying informed about who is making the calls at the top is the only way to ensure the "People of the State of Illinois" are actually getting the justice they deserve.
Find out your court date or look up specific case numbers through the Lake County Circuit Clerk’s online portal if you need to track a specific ongoing matter. If you are looking to report a new crime, always start with your local police department; the State's Attorney's office generally only steps in once an investigation is initiated by law enforcement.
To stay updated on policy changes or new initiatives like the Gun Violence Prevention Initiative, you can sign up for the office's community newsletters directly on their website.