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Lake County panel emergency-approves funding to cover prosecutors’ pay, fund conviction integrity director
Summary
The committee approved a joint resolution to emergency-appropriate $98,000 from a special asset forfeiture fund to reimburse the general fund for certain prosecutors’ salary/benefit costs and to reallocate $82,000 to fund the conviction integrity unit director pending a grant modification with the Illinois Innocence Project.
The Lake County Law & Judicial Committee on Dec. 2 approved an emergency appropriation to move $98,000 from a special asset forfeiture account to reimburse the general fund for certain State’s Attorney Office employees and to reallocate $82,000 to fund the conviction integrity unit director for fiscal year 2026.
Joe Gervitter, chief deputy of administrative services for the State’s Attorney’s Office, told the committee the resolution ‘‘is doing a couple of different things’’: appropriating $98,000 from the office’s special asset forfeiture fund to offset roughly 6% of salary and benefits for 10 felony assistant state’s attorneys and reallocating $82,000 of unused felony funds to cover the conviction integrity unit director’s projected FY26 salary and benefits.
Gervitter said the office expects a budget modification tied to a subgrant with the Illinois Innocence Project to cover the conviction integrity position long term, but federal delays have delayed that modification. In response to a question about the forfeiture fund’s typical annual receipts, Gervitter said historically the fund receives about $85,000 per year.
A committee member clarified that the fund in question was criminal asset forfeiture funds rather than civil forfeiture. Gervitter confirmed the money discussed is from criminal proceeds and said those receipts typically arise following felony convictions.
The committee moved and seconded the resolution, and the Presiding Member called a voice vote. The motion carried with unanimous Aye votes and no opposition.
Next steps: the committee approved the emergency appropriation at the meeting; the office said it will pursue the grant modification with the Illinois Innocence Project when federal processes allow.
