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Julia worked together with Champaign County justice officials to create the continuous jury term process in 2006. The continuous jury term process has reduced the backlog of criminal cases and assisted in the reduction of the Champaign County jail population. The system has also made jury service less of a burden on Champaign County citizens, increasing the number of citizens who participate in the jury pool.
Julia works together with Champaign County justice officials to prevent overcrowding in the Champaign County jails. Through the cooperative efforts of the State’s Attorney’s Office, the judiciary, and the public defender, Champaign County’s jail population has decreased from at or over capacity of 279 to below 200 or in the low 200’s. Julia continues to urge the Champaign County board to make long range plans to close the downtown jail and add on to the Lierman Street satellite jail due to the difference in conditions in the two facilities.
Julia serves as Chair of the Board of the Champaign County Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC), which facilitates multidisciplinary, child-friendly investigations in cases of sexual or physical abuse to children. As Chair, Julia negotiated the successful collaboration between the CAC and the Champaign Urbana Public Health District, resulting in the CAC’s recent move to the CUPHD building on Kenyon Road in Champaign.
In 2006, Julia created the Delinquent Court Costs Collection program to collect unpaid court costs, fines, fees and restitution in criminal cases. The State’s Attorney’s Office employs a paralegal to contact those individuals who owe court ordered fees in criminal cases, to notify them of their debt, set up payment plans, track payment, and if necessary, begin court proceedings to enforce court orders. The program has brought in over $100,000.00 in revenue to Champaign County in its first year.
Julia speaks regularly to classes at our local high schools, Parkland College and the University of Illinois College of Law to educate young people on the criminal justice system, on their rights and responsibilities as citizens, and on local government issues.
In 2005, Julia personally prosecuted Dwayne Croom for the 2003 murder of a 3 year old child. Croom was found guilty following a jury trial and was sentenced to 50 years in prison.
In 2005, Julia personally prosecuted Brandon Leonard for Aggravated Driving Under the Influence resulting in the death of a bicyclist on Route 45 in August of that year. Leonard, who had been convicted of Driving Under the Influence on 2 prior occasions, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 years in prison.
In 2007, Julia personally prosecuted John Haywood for weapons offenses and sex offenses involving teenage girls in Urbana. Haywood was found guilty following a jury trial and was sentenced to 55 years in prison.
In 2007, Julia proposed legislation to create the offense of Negligent Vehicular Homicide following the tragic death of bicyclist Matthew Wilhelm. Julia testified in support of the legislation in front of the House judicial committee. The proposal passed unanimously in the House, but was defeated in the Senate.
Julia serves on the state Distracted Driving Task Force, a task force created in response to the Wilhelm death to examine issues related to distracted driving and create proposals to address this growing issue. The Task Force will meet and hear testimony throughout the state in 2007 and 2008.
Julia serves on the Unit 4 Vision Committee, a committee of local leaders working to create a plan for the future of the Unit 4 schools. As a parent of children in Unit 4 schools and as the State’s Attorney, Julia is honored to be part of this important process.
Julia serves on the Champaign County Drug Court Steering Committee. Drug Court is a program that provides a last chance alternative to prison for drug addicted felony offenders. The program centers on intensive treatment and monitoring for those whose drug addictions have contributed to their criminal behavior.
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About
Julia