Gang Unit
State's Attorney James W. Glasgow's efforts to eradicate
gangs from Will County centers on the Gang Prosecution
Unit of the Will County State's Attorney's Office. The
Unit specializes in prosecuting violent gang crime and
emphasizes vertical prosecution. It is respected as one
of the most aggressive and successful in the nation and
was profiled on ABC World News Tonight, with the late
Peter Jennings.
Upon implementation of an unprecedented aggressive gang
prosecution policy to work in concert with the excellent
police agencies across the county, the results were dramatic.
This included using the grand jury as a prosecuting tool
by bringing in reluctant witnesses to preserve their statements
and forcing gang members to recant false statements made
to police.
After gang-related shootings in Joliet escalated from 128
in 1991 to 227 in 1992, and 297 in 1993, a gang sweep was
carried out which resulted in 46 hardcore and high level
Will County gang members being arrested and convicted reducing
gang-related shootings by 50%.
The Will County State’s Attorney’s
Office published a booklet referred to as the “primary
primer on gangs” by
the Chicago Tribune. The publication
is currently in the process of being updated and is a compilation
of research and articles that explain and expose the intricacies
of gang affiliation. It instructs citizens on all aspects
of fighting gangs and the patterns of gang growth in a community
and will be available to schools, parents, churches and employers
in Will County. Related information is available by clicking
on the Gang
Prevention link in this text or under the menu item Crime
Prevention.
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