This mission started in 1977.
The Illinois Legislature created the Office of the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor in 1977.
The Agency was given the mission to work closely with State’s Attorneys in 101 counties to prepare, file, and argue cases in the appellate courts to keep convicted criminals behind bars.
The Agency’s responsibility has since been expanded to include serving as Special Prosecutor, providing assistance to State’s Attorneys in labor cases under the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act, in drug cases, and in tax objection cases. The Agency also provides continuing legal education services which includes specialized sessions in trial advocacy and in cases involving children who are crime victims and witnesses.
The Agency’s specific powers and duties are detailed in the State’s Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor’s Act (725 ILCS 210 et. seq).
The primary objective of the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor is to deliver quality professional services to all participating counties in full compliance with its legislative mandate. This includes:
- To represent the People of the State of Illinois on appeal in all cases which emanate from a county containing less than 3,000,000 inhabitants, when requested to do so and at the direction of the State's Attorney;
- To prepare, file, and argue such appellate briefs in the Illinois Appellate Court with the advice and consent of the State's Attorney and, when requested and authorized to do so by the Attorney General, in the Supreme Court;
- To assist State's Attorneys in the discharge of their duties under the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, the Methamphetamine Control and Community Protection Act, the Narcotics Profit Forfeiture Act, the Cannabis Control Act, the Drug Asset Forfeiture Procedure Act, and the Illinois Public Labor Relations Act;
- To provide trial assistance to State's Attorneys and to serve as Special Prosecutor when duly appointed by a court having jurisdiction with a court order stating the statutory provisions;
- To assist State's Attorneys in the trial and appeal of tax objection cases;
- To conduct training programs for State's Attorneys and law enforcement personnel including programs to reduce trauma for child witnesses in criminal proceedings; and
- To provide a legal intern program.