Glasgow was sworn in to his 8th term as Will County State’s Attorney, securing his place as Illinois’ longest-serving State’s Attorney. Glasgow has a long and distinguished career during which he has implemented groundbreaking initiatives to investigate, prosecute and prevent crime. As a prosecutor and third-generation Will County resident, State’s Attorney Glasgow has committed himself to making Will County the safest place to live, work and raise families. In December 2024, he was sworn in to his 8th term as Will County State’s Attorney, securing his place as Illinois’ longest-serving State’s Attorney. Under his direction, the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office has led the way in the creation of crime prevention programs, while maintaining a felony conviction rate 15 points higher than the state average. The Office of the Will County State’s Attorney serves the people of Will County, Illinois with a population of just over 692,000. The county covers 849 square miles, is the 13th largest county in the state, and is the 2nd largest county of the 6-county Chicago metro region. The City of Joliet, with over 126,000 citizens, is the county seat of Will County. The office of State’s Attorney is similar to that of a District Attorney or County Prosecutor in other states and is charged with a wide range of duties and responsibilities which include the following:
The State’s Attorney’s Office is divided into the following divisions:
• Criminal Division
• Civil Division
• Juvenile Division
• Administrative Division
CRIMINAL DIVISION
The Criminal Division handles the prosecution of all felony and misdemeanor cases, as well as petty offenses. In addition to the trial in each courtroom, the State’s Attorney’s Office also has special prosecution units.
• Felony Division - responsible for the prosecution of all felony offenses. Felonies are more serious offenses in which a prison sentence of a year or more may be imposed upon a defendant’s conviction.
• Misdemeanor Division - responsible for the prosecution of all misdemeanor offenses, including all non-felony DUI offenses, traffic, conservation offenses, and petty offenses. Misdemeanors are offenses that carry a maximum penalty of up to 354 days in jail upon conviction. Petty offenses are offenses for which no jail or prison may be imposed.
• Complaint Office - reviews all cases presented for potential charges by law enforcement and members of the public. The Office also coordinates Grand Jury proceedings.
• Specialized Prosecution Units - led by assistant state’s attorneys who receive special legal training and aggressively prosecute felony or misdemeanor cases falling within their areas of expertise. CIVIL DIVISION
The Civil Division is responsible for the legal business of Will County. The State’s Attorney’s Office serves as the lawyer for Will County, providing legal advice and representation for the county and its officials, both elected and appointed, in civil matters that arise through the course of their official duties. The Civil Division researches and prepares legal opinions on behalf of county officers who raise questions concerning the drafting of contracts and county policies. The division also monitors new legislation to determine the potential impact on county operations. The division also assists with budget preparation and responds to citizen complaints regarding any unit of county government.
• Safeguarding Ordinance Violations - prosecutes violations of the county’s zoning, building, and public health ordinances. Zoning and community development cases may concern unauthorized trash and debris, the operation of unlicensed businesses or uninhabitable housing. Building Department cases involve the construction of improper or unsafe structures or the failure to obtain building permits before beginning construction as well as other construction practices that may affect public safety. Health Department cases deal with health code violations, such as unsanitary conditions at restaurants or malfunctioning septic systems.
• Child Support Enforcement - enforces child support orders and helps obtain timely and consistent payments of financial support for custodial parents. The service is free for custodial parents who do not receive any public assistance.
• Mental Health Cases - responsible for petitioning the court for the emergency involuntary commitment of persons who need immediate hospitalization and who pose a serious threat to themselves or others due to a mental illness. JUVENILE DIVISION
The Juvenile Division prosecutes every case in the County in which a person under the age of 18 is charged with a crime other than a traffic offense. The penalties in such cases range from probation to detention in the River Valley Juvenile Justice Center, or in the Illinois Department of Corrections’ Department of Juvenile Justice for the more serious cases. The Juvenile Division participates in the victim-sensitive interviews at the Child Advocacy Center with the multi-disciplinary team when the allegations involve a juvenile, and protects our young people by prosecuting parents who have abused or neglected their children. In the most serious of these cases, prosecutors file petitions asking the court to terminate the parental rights of abusive parents, allowing the children to be adopted into loving, caring homes. The State’s Attorney’s Office is committed to assisting juveniles and their parents in navigating difficult times. The office helps parents keep their children out of trouble by offering information about and referrals to various social service agencies and support services. The Juvenile Division has a full-time victim advocate available to assist victims through the criminal process. Other Services of the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office include:
• Will County Children’s Advocacy Center
• Crime Prevention and Community Education Programs
• Drug Court
• Identity Theft Response Assistance
• Community Presentations
• Walk-In Complaints
The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office CAN NOT:
• Provide legal representation to persons seeking a divorce or dissolution of marriage
• Provide legal representation to persons seeking child custody or enforcement of a custody order or visitation order
• Offer legal advice to persons involved in “civil legal disputes” such as landlord-tenant problems, bankruptcies, collection of bad debts, adoptions, automobile accidents, income tax matters, or contract disputes
• Lower your real estate taxes because you feel you have been unjustly assessed or taxed
• Provide legal advice on how to start or operate a business
