Q&A with Jacobs

1. Why are you running for this office, whether for re-election or election the first time? Is there a particular issue that motivates you, and if so, what is that? What will be your main priority in office?

As a 44-year resident of Lake County, husband and parent of three school-age children, there are many issues that motivate me to run for this office. The most important of which is the current administration's failure to prioritize serious crime in our communities, including the fact that sexual offenders, particularly those who prey upon children, often plead out for relatively short prison sentences and are back on the street only to offend again. In addition, it is my belief that the presence of street gangs is on the rise as well as attendant violence associated with those gangs. Moreover, the administration appears to pay lip service to elder abuse. Finally, I am concerned over poor allocation of taxpayers' dollars. My main priority will be to prioritize prosecution of these serious crimes to ensure that offenders who are convicted receive an appropriate punishment.

2. For incumbents and non-incumbents: If you are an incumbent, describe your main contributions. Tell us of important initiatives you've led. If you are not an incumbent, tell us what contributions you would make.

I believe that I will bring fresh ideas to an office that has become complacent and unaware of new and increasing problems that are facing the resident of Lake County. For example, in order to improve upon the documented deficiencies in sex crime prosecutions, I would train select assistant state's attorneys as sex crime and elder abuse specialists for the purpose of ensuring the appropriate handling of those cases as well as the often fragile psyches of the victims and witnesses associated with them. In addition, I would create a Gang Crime Task Force similar to what is being used in Cook County to address all facets of gang crime. Moreover, I would create a Public Integrity Unit to address any issues of public corruption. Finally, I would implement community relations liaisons for the purpose of fostering and encouraging communications between the office and the residents of Lake County.

3. How would you characterize the current staffing and funding levels in the state's attorney's office, and are there any changes you would make or seek from the county board?

It is my belief that the State's Attorney's Office has many qualified attorneys on staff at the present time, but some are underutilized due to inefficiencies brought about by the unnecessary use of outside counsel. Accordingly, I would recommend maintaining current levels of staffing until these inefficiencies and the use of outside counsel (and associated costs) can be thoroughly analyzed to determine if more or less staff and/or funding is required.

4. As you consider the office's divisions and special units, are there any that you think should be expanded? Disbanded? Any new ones that should be created? Is the high-tech crime unit sufficiently staffed to meet the challenges of cyber crime?

As I stated in my response to No. 2 above, I believe there is a need for sex crime and elder abuse specialists, if not stand-alone units. These individuals would be specially for the purpose of ensuring the appropriate handling of these cases as well as the often fragile psyches of the victims and witnesses associated with them in order to ensure that justice is served. In addition, I would create a Gang Crime Task Force similar to what is being used in Cook County to address all facets of gang crime. A properly trained Gang Crime Task Force will be better equipped to respond to issues arising out of gang-related prosecutions and more likely to ensure that justice is served. Moreover, I would create a Public Integrity Unit to address any issues of crime involving government employees or officials. Because the front-line assistants work with police officers on a daily basis, there is a need to separate these individuals due to potentials for conflicts of interest. Finally, it is my belief that the high-tech crime unit is not sufficiently staffed at the present time. The Internet is an ever-growing jungle fraught with danger and peril. Identity theft and other cyber crimes, including sex crimes, are on the rise. There is a need to have additional resources committed to this problem.

5. What proposals, if any, do you have for improving the efficiency of the office?

First, I believe the office's efficiency can be bolstered by spending government resources more wisely. At the present time, the office is needlessly spending resources on outside counsel to represent the county's interests in civil matters. This expensive practice leaves fewer dollars to operate the office. Moreover, I believe that automation of the Lake County Court system is long overdue. I believe that efficiency will be enhanced through automation of the clerk's office. Accordingly, I would recommend that steps be taken to secure funding to begin that process.

6. What can the state's attorney do to retain quality prosecutors who might be able to earn more money in private practice?

This phenomenon is not limited to the State's Attorney's Office. It is always a challenge to hire and retain attorneys to work in all areas of the public sector. However, it is my belief that prosecutors seek out their roles because being a prosecutor is a calling. They don't necessarily do it for the money. Nonetheless, some incentives for individuals to consider in lieu of actual money include the following:

1. Continuing Legal Education. The office will cover the cost of training similar to an arrangement that outgoing Cook County State's Attorney Dick Devine arranged for his office with the Chicago Bar Association. This will ease the burden for attorneys to comply with ARDC requirements regarding biannual CLE requirements.;

2. Use of flex time to complete 40 hour work weeks when court calls will justify being out of the office.

3. Work to ensure student loan forgiveness legislation is enacted. 4. Issuing compensatory time for time worked in excess of 40 hours.