DuPage State’s Attorney says county prepared for new “Corina’s Law”; one warrant executed successfully

DuPage County State’s Attorney Bob Berlin told the Judicial and Public Safety Committee on June 17 that county offices assembled a stakeholder team and stood up procedures ahead of the new law’s effective date, and that those preparations helped when the county handled its first search-warrant matter under the statute.

Berlin said the law was signed by the governor on Feb. 10 and took effect May 11. He said county stakeholders — including judges, the sheriff’s office, police chiefs, Circuit Court Clerk Candace Adams and staff from his office — met several times in March, April and May to prepare forms and procedures. Berlin said the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts was developing forms, but DuPage prepared its own as a fallback.

The law changes how search warrants tied to orders of protection are served: although the sheriff must serve orders of protection, the law assigns execution of some search warrants to the local police agency that handles calls at the scene, and it gives the responding agency 96 hours to execute the warrant or seek a court modification.

Berlin described one case out of Cook County in which a judge signed a warrant May 19 for a respondent who lived in unincorporated Willowbrook. DuPage’s office received notice and related police reports, transmitted them to the sheriff’s office and learned the address on the warrant was incorrect. Berlin said his office filed motions to intervene and to modify the warrant and that a judge held two Zoom hearings, on May 21 and later that same day, to approve warrant modifications. The sheriff’s office executed the warrant at 6:58 a.m. on May 23.

When deputies arrived, the petitioner and respondent were present; Berlin said both were cooperative. The sheriff’s office recovered six firearms, 12 magazines and one trigger assembly. Berlin credited close communication among Cook County, the circuit clerk’s office and the sheriff’s office for the safe outcome and said the county’s preparations — and the 96-hour operational window — allowed law enforcement to develop a safe plan before execution.

Committee members asked how the county determines which agency serves a warrant when cities cross county lines or multiple agencies could respond. Berlin said courts can contact DuComm to identify the responding agency. He also said the judge issuing the warrant must find probable cause and that petitioners must provide a detailed fact sheet; in the May case some fact-sheet details differed from later phone statements, which led the office to seek warrant modifications.

Committee members asked whether petitioners who are in distress can trigger an order without the fact sheet; Berlin said the law requires sworn testimony for the warrant, but police can obtain firearm‑restraining orders immediately in some situations. Berlin said DuPage has seen continued use of firearm‑restraining orders this year and noted the county issued its 16th such order the prior week.

Berlin and members discussed tactical considerations: the sheriff’s office tailored the execution team for that case and checked for FOID and concealed-carry status. Berlin said evidence found lawfully during a search can generate additional criminal charges if applicable.

Berlin closed by saying DuPage law enforcement agencies participated in planning and that the county is “fully prepared” for additional cases under the law.