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Stephenson County officials warn Karina’s Law is straining local law enforcement and evidence processes
Summary
Sheriff and county staff briefed commissioners on operational challenges under Illinois’ new Karina’s Law, including a 96-hour search-warrant service requirement, an early multi‑county standoff and concerns about storage and care of seized firearms; officials also updated the board on facility projects and upcoming RFPs.
Sheriff (name not specified) told the Stephenson County Board on a March meeting day that Illinois’ recently enacted Karina’s Law is creating new operational burdens for local law enforcement, notably a court-ordered 96-hour window to serve search warrants for firearms tied to orders of protection.
"Now they have to explain to the judge why that's important, but the judge can then go ahead and check the box," the sheriff said, describing how a petition for an order of protection can include a check box requesting a search warrant for weapons. The sheriff said the statute requires the responding agency to serve the warrant within 96 hours, often prompting a large, armed response.
The sheriff described a multi‑county incident he said occurred recently in Jo Daviess County and the Galena Territory: a suspect who fled into a house led to a 32‑hour barricade; state police and several county SWAT teams responded. "That 1 was resolved without a shot fired, but it was…
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