About the Cook County State's Attorney's Office

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office, employing over 850 Assistant State's Attorneys, is the second largest prosecutor's office in the nation. The State's Attorney's Office prosecutes all criminal cases involving misdemeanor and felony crimes committed in Cook County. The office files legal actions to enforce child support orders, protect consumers and the elderly from exploitation, and assist thousands of victims of domestic violence every year. The civil law section of the office represents all county elected officials and county agencies.

The office is divided into eight bureaus: Criminal Prosecutions, Juvenile Justice, Narcotics, Special Prosecutions, Public Interest, Civil Actions, Investigations and Administrative Services. The Criminal Prosecutions Bureau is the largest bureau in the office. The Bureau is divided into three divisions: Felony Trial, Sexual Crimes, and Municipal. Each division is further divided into specialized units, which are located throughout Cook County, an area that encompasses nearly 1,000 square miles.

The Juvenile Justice Bureau contains three divisions: Delinquency, Child Protection, and Child Advocacy. The Delinquency Division handles cases involving juveniles under the age of 17 who have been arrested for committing a crime. The Child Protection Division files civil actions against parents and guardians who abuse or neglect their children. The Child Advocacy Division investigates cases of child sexual abuse.

The Narcotics Bureau was created in response to the tremendous increase in narcotics prosecutions. The units in the Narcotics Bureau are Preliminary Hearings/Grand Jury, Felony Trial, Day/Night Narcotics Courtrooms, Drug Treatment Program, Complex Narcotics Prosecution, Asset Forfeitures and Nuisance Abatement.

The Special Prosecutions Bureau was created to successfully investigate and prosecute complex criminal cases. It includes units for Arson, Auto Theft, Gang Crimes, Government and Financial Crimes, Organized Crime/Cold Case, and Professional Standards.

The Public Interest Bureau initiates civil and criminal lawsuits to protect individuals and the general public interest. Consumer Fraud, Child Support Enforcement, Environment and Energy, Major Actions, and Seniors and Persons with Disabilities are units in the bureau.

The Civil Actions Bureau defends the county and its officeholders and employees in civil suits, provides a full range of legal services for all county agencies, and represents the county's interests in actions brought to collect monies owed for taxes and fees. The bureau has sections dedicated to Complex Litigation, Labor and Employment, Torts and Civil Rights, Industrial Claims, Revenue Recovery, Municipal Litigation, Transactions/Health Law, and Real Estate Taxation.

The Investigations and Administrative Services Bureaus supply investigative, technical and administrative assistance to the office.The Administrative Services Bureau contains the office's national award -winning Victim Witness Assistance Program that provides services to crime victims.