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Candidates for Lake state's attorney discuss deferred prosecution, support staff

While one Democratic candidate for Lake County state's attorney has an idea to make the office more efficient, the other suggested a program he said could lower recidivism and save taxpayers money.

Michael Perillo, Jr., a 60-year-old attorney from Grayslake, said he would review whether adding support staff to the state's attorney's office would do more to help prosecutors than hiring new attorneys to replace those lost through attrition.

Matt Stanton, a 54-year-old attorney from Gurnee, said he would push to add a deferred prosecution program for first-time, nonviolent felons in Lake County.

The candidates are running in the March 15 primary. The winner will face Republican incumbent Michael Nerheim in the November general election.

The comments were made in candidate questionnaires and during a Daily Herald endorsement interview.

Perillo said attention must be paid to the crucial roles support staff, such as paralegals and secretaries, perform in the office.

If elected, he would closely examine whether enough support staff is in place, how well it functions within the office and work to maximize its effectiveness, he said.

If funding is available, he would look to add support staff members if needed, he said.

"I don't know that this goes on in the state's attorney's office, but many times in my experience, any legal organization will think about bringing another attorney into the fold and that's great," Perillo said. "But I've also learned that, many times, bringing in support staff makes the attorneys you have more productive."

Stanton said, if elected, he would work with Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran and Lake County Chief Judge Jorge Ortiz to institute a deferred prosecution program.

Deferred prosecution is similar to court supervision, Stanton said, in that it allows first-time, nonviolent felons to receive supervision. It also extends the possibility for certain felony convictions to be expunged.

Offenders involved in the program would need to be employed or in school, pay restitution, and follow drug and alcohol screenings, he said. The victims would also have to agree to allow the offender to enter the program.

"Two years ago, the state legislature said this seemed to have worked, seemed to have met the goals of lessening recidivism and also of saving taxpayer money from having to process through courts and trials and incarceration." Stanton said.

Michael J. Perillo Jr.: Candidate Profile

Matt Stanton: Candidate Profile

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