Title
Resolution Honoring the Rights of Victims and Demanding that Violent Offenders Be Held Accountable and Enforcing Maximum Bail and Punishments Allowed by Law
History
Protecting public safety in the Village of Orland Park is the Village’s highest responsibility. Cook County is experiencing life-changing and life-threatening crime with unprecedented homicidal activities putting the general public at risk of hurt, harm and danger. The escalating crime wave includes unsolved murders, shootings, killings of children and youth, and criminal activities which are of such a nature that an extreme response of extra help and support is necessary. The vitality of our community depends on how safe we keep our homes, neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces because crime and fear of crime diminish the quality of life for all.
Tens of thousands of people in Cook County are victims of crime every year. Some victims endure horrific acts of violence, some have personal possessions damaged or stolen, and others are defrauded or exploited financially. Whatever the crime, many victims lose something that can never be fully recovered: a sense of trust and safety. Many of these victims are twice victimized: once by a criminal and once by a criminal justice system that increasingly prioritizes criminals over the safety of law-abiding citizens.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed 970 homicides in 2020, a more than 40 percent increase over 2019’s total of 675. The last time Cook County saw more than 970 homicides was in 1996. In the first three (3) months of 2021 in Chicago, carjackings are higher than in 2020, murders rose 33% over the same period last year, and shootings spiked 43%.
Criminals should be held accountable for their actions. A Chicago Tribune analysis found that during Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx’s first three (3) years as the county’s top prosecutor, her office dropped all charges against 29.9% of felony defendants, a dramatic increase over her predecessor. The Chicago Tribune analysis also found that despite dropping more felony charges than her predecessor, of the felony cases that have been concluded, the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office under prior State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez won convictions in 75% of cases during the last three (3) years of Ms. Alvarez’s term in office, higher than the conviction rate achieved by Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx, which was just 66% in the first three (3) years of her term
The Illinois criminal code compiles Illinois’ criminal law, including penalties that may be imposed for criminal offenses, including weapons violations. Having an abundance of criminal laws in place is inadequate if these laws will not be prosecuted. Of the forty-six (46) Orland Park Police Department firearm arrests from January 1, 2019, through April, 2021, only one (1) was held with no bond, thirteen (13) were released on I Bonds (on their own personal recognizance), and the remainder were released on low bond amounts.
On January 29, 2013, Hadiya Pendleton was shot in the back and tragically killed at the age of 15 while standing with friends inside Harsh Park in Kenwood, Chicago after taking her final exams. At the time of the shooting, Ward, the gunman, was on probation having pleaded guilty to aggravated unlawful use of a weapon in January 2012, and being sentenced to two (2) years of probation. Less than three (3) months later, Ward was arrested and charged with breaking into a car and, in July 2012, was arrested for breaking into a different vehicle.
In February 2021, Oak Lawn Mayor, Sandra Bury, called on Kim Foxx to resign after the death of twelve-year-old Cire Robinson, a Simmons Middle School student who was killed on January 20, 2021, in a car accident allegedly caused by a drunken driver whom Chicago police said was nine (9) times above the legal blood alcohol limit. The 27-year-old driver, Daniel Regaldo, had a blood-alcohol content of .457, or almost 600% higher than the legal limit. Regaldo’s extensive criminal record should have prevented him from being on the streets. His first arrest was at the age of 17, and by the time he was 22, at the time of Kim Foxx's first election, he had been arrested fourteen (14) different times on twenty-four (24) different charges including attempted murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and multiple battery charges.
The Cook County criminal justice system’s soft on crime approach only produces more violent crime and more victims. In 2020, an increasing number of gun arrests made by police in the Chicago area were being handled upfront by federal authorities bypassing Cook County prosecutors.
The Orland Park Village Board honors the rights of victims of crimes. As such, the Village Board supports the prosecution of all crimes, including gun related crimes, and calls for the State’s Attorney to ensure that residents and businesses of Cook County are kept safe by holding violent offenders accountable and enforcing the maximum bail and punishments allowed by law.
Financial Impact
None
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to adopt a Resolution 2118 entitled: RESOLUTION HONORING THE RIGHTS OF VICTIMS AND DEMANDING THAT VIOLENT OFFENDERS BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND ENFORCING MAXIMUM BAIL AND PUNISHMENTS ALLOWED BY LAW.