Schaumburg considering local adjudication system

Schaumburg officials are considering adopting their own administrative adjudication system like some nearby suburbs, in order not to cede control over some low-level violations like property maintenance or first-time retail theft to the circuit court.

"Staff has researched this and feels it would be an effective way to have more local control," Community Development Director Julie Fitzgerald told them members of Schaumburg's planning, building and development committee Thursday.

Communities that already employ such a system include Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Mount Prospect, Park Ridge and Evanston, she added.

Though members of the committee expressed no major concerns about moving ahead, further information and direction will be required during the coming months.

"The target is to have this up and running in January," Village Manager Brian Townsend said.

While the village would continue to use the same prosecutor they have for circuit court cases, adopting the system would require the purchase of computer software and the appointment of an attorney to act as adjudication officer - equivalent to the role of judge.

Fitzgerald said defendants will always have the right to appeal the adjudication officer's decisions to the circuit court, and there may be particular cases the village opts to send directly to court.

By maintaining such local control, the village could ensure that code violators aren't simply coming into compliance on the day before a court hearing and charge fines to discourage repeat offenders, Fitzgerald said.

The village has observed that judges are often reluctant to charge fines, and when they do the money goes to the court and not Schaumburg.

The periodic adjudication hearings would be held in the formal setting of Russ Parker Hall at village hall - the same chamber where village board meetings are held.

Though village board approval of the administrative adjudication system isn't anticipated within the coming weeks, it will be required for the system to be established this winter.