Chris Kennedy: Candidate Profile

Note: Answers provided have not been edited for grammar, misspellings or typos. In some instances, candidate claims that could not be immediately verified have been omitted. Jump to:BioKey IssuesQA Bio City: LibertyvilleWebsite: http://www.ChrisKennedy2012.comOffice sought: Lake State's AttorneyAge: 43Family: Married, three childrenOccupation: AttorneyEducation: B.A. in History, State University of New York, Binghamton (1990) J.D., John Marshall Law School (1994)Civic involvement: * past board member and Legislative Director of the Autism Society of Illinois (wrote, passed numerous laws and programs to protect persons with autism and other disabilities); *Little League coach/manager, 2003-present; *member of various organizations (Illinois State Bar Association, Chicago Bar Association, Lake County Bar Association, Small Business Advocacy Council)Elected offices held: Libertyville District 70 School Board, 2007-presentHave you ever been arrested for or convicted of a crime? If yes, please explain: No.Candidate's Key Issues Key Issue 1 The approach to high-profile cases involving alleged wrongful convictions, especially concerning DNA evidence, is the most urgent issue in this race.For too long, and in too many cases, questions have been raised about whether our prosecutors heed undisputed physical evidence, resulting in accusations of injustice, compromised public safety and unnecessary taxpayer expense.I will create the first Conviction Integrity Unit in the State of Illinois, to prevent wrongful convictions while also preventing further crimes by making sure the Lake County State's Attorney's Office pursues and convicts the actual perpetrators of violent crimes.The Conviction Integrity Unit will: a. Retrospectively review certain post-conviction cases, draw lessons from past cases and studies on wrongful convictions, and seek to identify and prosecute correct perpetrators;b. Prospectively apply lessons learned from wrongful conviction studies, supervise and enhance training of Assistant State's Attorneys and investigators in best practices to prevent wrongful prosecutions, oversee process of investigation and charging of major crimes; andc. Drive systemic institutional reform and cultural change. This unit will bolster public confidence in the prosecutor's office and increase public safety by ensuring that cases involving physical evidence, such as DNA material, are treated properly using the best practices available.(Discussed in more detail in response to question #1 below.)Key Issue 2 I will work to enhance the focus on victims, especially victims' rights in sex crimes and crimes against children.I will establish a specialized unit to focus strictly on sex offenses, to improve the Office's focus on these difficult and dangerous cases while maintaining respect for victims and their right to be heard. The Sex Crimes Unit will consist of select Assistant State's Attorneys committed to a minimum period of time, specialized training and multidisciplinary expertise.This division will ensure prompt interaction from the prosecution team at the outset of each case, with the same team handling a case from beginning to end, committing to increased victim support throughout prosecution and afterward.Key Issue 3 I will work to improve transparency and to restore to the Office its sense of purpose and its moral imperative to pursue equal justice.As State's Attorney, I will remain personally accountable by answering questions from the press, inviting outside input and even criticism, and work to earn and maintain public trust by exhibiting personal integrity, fairness and professionalism at all times.I will also advocate for victims' rights while upholding those of defendants, promote positive professional relationships with partner agencies while maintaining independent judgment, and maintain accountability by responsibly managing public funds.I believe that the Lake County State's Attorney's Office can and will become a model for other prosecutors' offices.Questions Answers What do you plan to do to bolster public confidence in the operation of the prosecutor's office? What will you do to improve the handling of cases with a DNA element to them?I will establish the first Conviction Integrity Unit in the State of Illinois, which will have authority to independently investigate and make recommendations on certain challenged convictions, prosecute cold cases where DNA or other evidence suggests different or additional perpetrators, and oversee ongoing cases and investigations to ensure that evidence is properly collected, tested and evaluated at the earliest opportunity in every case.In addition to investigations initiated by the State's Attorney, the Conviction Integrity Unit may also review claims made by or on behalf of a convicted defendant who presents a meaningful, substantive claim of actual innocence.The Conviction Integrity Unit will also review and oversee procedures and training of Assistant State's Attorneys and investigators in the proper collection and testing of evidence, best practice interrogation techniques and recording protocols, case assessment, and disclosure obligations, with a special focus on preventing errors due to misidentification by eyewitnesses, false testimony by incentivized witnesses (i.e., ?jailhouse snitches'), and false confessions. The Conviction Integrity Unit will consist of a senior prosecutor without ties to the original convictions, a senior investigator and an independent advisory board comprised of leading experts in criminal justice, including legal scholars and former prosecutors.Do you support reducing penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana? Why or why not?I do not support decriminalization of marijuana and will enforce the law as written.However, I do support limiting the taxpayer burden relating to such cases by the use of deferred prosecution, referrals to drug court, and the application of informed prosecutorial discretion, where appropriate, on a case-by-case basis.What improvements in the use of technology by the state's attorney's office do you propose? Be specific.I will seek to improve and coordinate internal office systems with long overdue improvements that will hopefully occur within the information systems of the Clerk of the Circuit Court, andimprove office-wide use of modern document management, case management and calendaring programs. I will also increase attention to cybercrimes, child pornography distribution, and the use of mobile devices, by hiring additional investigators with specific expertise in computer forensics.I will also explore hiring a forensic accountant to improve our ability to investigate sophisticated white collar and corruption cases, as well as financial exploitation of the elderly and individuals with disabilities.The State's Attorney's Office should also add information via its website, especially budget and organizational information, victim's rights, caseload statistics, annual reports, community programs, regular newsletters, certain internal policies, and contact information for different divisions.How can the state's attorney's office best participate in the discussion of construction of new court facilities' Be specific.I have been a member of the Lake County Bar Association's Facilities Committee since its inception and support efforts to provide workable courtroom space, including a dedicated criminal courts building, for a county that has long since outgrown its present facilities.I believe the State's Attorney can be an advocate for improved and safe utilization of county property, while remaining fiscally prudent.I have extensive professional experience in construction law and as a school board member in a district with aging facilities, which I would apply in fostering discussion of what is needed to serve the growing population of our county.What improvements can be made in the efficiency of operations in the office in light of budget cutbacks' Be specific.I will seek to enhance forfeitures and apply the proceeds of illegal activities to county use, reduce expensive outsourcing of civil matters, develop increased internal capacity for training and continuing legal education, increase referrals and coordination of certain cases to the Attorney General or US Attorney, continue and expand intern and volunteer programs (for certain work only), and improve information systems.Most importantly, significant changes must be made to reduce the taxpayer expense that may result from allegedly wrongful convictions.