Probation officers added to keep track of people on bond
The county's Adult Probation Department will be getting two new officers in the days to come to help keep tabs on people on bond.
The county's Law and Judicial Committee this week approved the hiring of the officers because of an explosion in the number of people who need to be monitored while awaiting trial.
County Administrator Barry Burton told the committee that the caseload for the pre-trial bond services section of probation has grown from an average of 425 at a time to 670.
The eight officers currently working in pre-trial cannot keep up with their duties, Burton said, in a situation where up to 80 percent of the jail population is made up of people not yet convicted.
To keep jail population under control, some of the accused must be released on bond and those people need to be tracked.
Court Administrator Robert Zastany said pre-trial supervision officers are responsible for monitoring drug and alcohol testing, home visits, curfew compliance and any other conditions placed on a prisoner's bond.
The new officers will be paid from probation service fees for the balance of the year, then will be transferred over to the county's general fund over the next two years.
Settlement reached:ŒThe Waukegan-based law firm of Salvi, Schostok and Pritchard recently obtained a $1.6 million judgment for the estate of a 5-month-old Joliet boy who died as a result of medical malpractice.
The settlement was reached last week in Will County court.
Michael Schostok said Noah Wilson was admitted to Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet on Sept. 25, 2002, suffering from abdominal pain and dehydration.
Dr. Ahsan Niazi was in charge of Noah's care, and failed to take any action in spite of the infant's worsening condition, a lawsuit filed against Niazi and the hospital charged.
Noah died the following morning on the way to the operating room after lapsing into septic shock.
The settlement is believed to be one of the largest of its kind for a medical malpractice suit in Will County.
Senior academy:ŒThe Mundelein Police Department will office a senior citizens police academy from 1 to 3 p.m. every Tuesday starting this Tuesday.
The academy will be held at the Mundelein Park District Senior Center, 1200 Regent Drive.
Topics will include crime lab operations, criminal investigations, SWAT team functions and drug enforcement.
Attendance is limited to the first 40 applicants. To register, call (847) 968-3775.