PROGRAMS AND SERVICES

Mission Statement

Our commitment is to protect and advance the public interest and to provide law enforcement leadership through teamwork, professionalism and legal excellence.

Message from the Attorney General

As Attorney General, I am responsible for directing the legal affairs of Illinois. In that role, I not only advise and represent state government and its agencies, but advocate for the interests of the people as a whole.

I believe that it is my duty as the state's top law enforcement officer to make Illinois a safer place, especially for our most vulnerable residents. That is why my office works hard to safeguard our families, children, senior citizens and citizens with disabilities through advocacy, education and representation.

This guide is designed to help you access many of the programs and services my office provides. To this end, the guide has been divided to reflect our three main areas of service: Advocacy, Education and Representation. For more information, log on to my office's Web site at www.ag.state.il.us or feel free to contact us. My staff is always willing to assist Illinois citizens in whatever way they can.

Lisa Madigan
Illinois Attorney General

Toll-Free Phone Numbers

Consumer Fraud
800-386-5438 (Chicago)
800-243-0618 (Springfield)
800-243-0607 (Carbondale)

Crime Victims Assistance Line
800-228-3368 Voice/TTY

Environmental Crimes Hotline
800-288-9436

Gang Crime Prevention Center
888-411-GCPC (4272)

Health Care Hotline
877-305-5145

Senior Citizens Consumer Fraud Helpline
800-243-5377

School Violence Tipline
800-477-0024

Veterans Helpline
800-382-3000

Toll-Free TTY Numbers

Chicago 800-964-3013

Springfield 877-844-5461

Carbondale 877-785-9339

Table of Contents

ADVOCACY 6
Children's Issues
Crime Victims Services
Disability Rights Issues
Disability Rights Bureau
Senior Issues
Veterans' Rights Bureau
Violence Against Women Issues

EDUCATION 11
I'm Al Right
Consumer Fraud Bureau
Charitable Trusts Bureau
Franchise Bureau
Freedom of Information
Gang Crime Prevention Center
Health Care Bureau
Speakers Bureau

REPRESENTATION 14
Criminal Prosecution and Trials Assistance Bureau
Environmental Crimes Bureau
High Tech Crimes Bureau
Illinois Internet Child Exploitation Task Force
Legislative Affairs Bureau
Opinions
Statewide Grand Jury

OTHER RESOURCES 18

DIRECTORY 19
Main Office Locations
Regional Office Locations

ADVOCACY

Advocacy on behalf of the people of Illinois is one of the most important functions of the Attorney General. From ensuring our children stay safe both at home and at school to protecting our senior citizens from fraud, the Office of Illinois Attorney General provides services and programs that cover a broad range of issues.

CHILDREN'S ISSUES

The Children's Policy Advisor advances the interests of children throughout the legislative and public policy processes by working collaboratively with other state agencies. The advisor works to implement programs and policies that reduce the incidence of physical and sexual abuse of children, create safer school environments and build community collaborations to provide services for at-risk youth. For more information on children's issues, call 217-524-8832 (TTY: 1-877-844-5461) or 312-814-3489 (TTY: 1-800-964-3013).

Children's Advocacy Centers:
To reduce the stress and anxiety associated with the disclosure of child abuse and the subsequent investigation and prosecution, the Office of the Attorney General has promoted the development of children's advocacy centers. The Illinois Child Advocacy Commission, cochaired by the Attorney General, provides technical assistance to communities interested in developing children's advocacy centers.
Safe to Learn:
In May 1998, following a school shooting in Springfield, Oregon, the Office of the Attorney General appointed a bipartisan advisory group to identify solutions to the growing problem of school violence. After conducting a series of statewide hearings where parents, teachers, administrators, law enforcement, counselors and students testified, the advisory group suggested a series of programmatic and legislative actions in their Safe to Learn report.
Those recommendations make up a large part of th Attorney General's Safe to Learn initiative - a long-range, statewide coordinated approach to developing community-based programs for the promotion and preservation of children's health, safety and education. The Safe to Learn initiative is predicated on two core beliefs:
1. Children are entitled to learn and grow in safe and well-prepared environments.
2. While the primary responsibility for raising and protecting children rests with parents, there is also a shared responsibility among civic and business leaders to assist in - and not harm - the work of parents to carry out their profoundly important duties.

School Violence Tipline: The Attorney General has also set up this statewide tipline, administered by the Illinois State Police, which students can use to anonymously report threats of violence or weapons violations on school grounds.

CRIME VICTIMS SERVICES

Violence affects us all, but for the victims of violent crime and their families, the effects can be physically, emotionally and financially devastating. The Office of the Attorney General administers three programs that may offer relief and comfort to victims of violent crime:

Violent Crime Victims Assistance Program:
The Violent Crime Victims Assistance Program provides grants to victim advocacy programs throughout the state. Funding comes from fines paid by criminal offenders, not from tax dollars.
Crime Victim Compensation Act Program:
The Crime Victim Compensation Act Program provides direct assistance to help victims cover medical and other crime-related expenses.
Statewide Victim Assistance Program:
The Statewide Victim Assistance Program provides services to crime victims whose cases are prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General. This program is also available to the 102 State's Attorneys across Illinois.

DISABILITY RIGHTS ISSUES

The Disability Rights Policy Advisor collaborates with public and private organizations to raise awareness of disability rights and to ensure that persons with disabilities receive equal treatment. For more information, call 217-524-6575 (TTY: 1-877-844-5461).

DISABILITY RIGHTS BUREAU

This bureau enforces the Environmental Barriers Act, a law that ensures physical access to buildings for people with disabilities. The bureau investigates all complaints relating to physical access to buildings and attempts to resolve any conflicts amicably. When necessary, the bureau files lawsuits against facility owners to obtain compliance. The bureau also provides advocacy, information and referral services on issues affecting persons with disabilities. For more information or to file a complaint, call 312-814-5684 (TTY: 1-800-964-3013) or 217-785-5726 (TTY: 1-877-844-5461).

SENIOR ISSUES

Recognizing that senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to consumer fraud and other forms of crime, the Office of the Attorney General has made their protection a top priority. The Senior Issues Policy Advisor works with state agencies and other governmental units to reduce the incidence of violent crime and consumer fraud against seniors through programs and policy initiatives including the following:

Triads:
Local triads are formed by a sheriff, police chief and community leader. They, along with an advisory council, determine the needs and concerns of the senior community and suggest initiatives to meet those needs. Triad activities help implement crime prevention, education and volunteer programs for senior citizens. The Office of the Attorney General can help in the formation of local triads.
Senior Citizen Fraud and Crime Council:
This group was organized to recommend program and training initiatives and to propose legislative initiatives to the Attorney General. The council also serves as a vehicle for the Office of the Attorney General to disseminate materials about consumer fraud to seniors through the Aging Network and to maintain an open line of communication with seniors throughout the state.

VETERANS' RIGHTS BUREAU

We owe a debt of gratitude to the veterans who have served our nation and safeguarded our freedom. The Veterans' Rights Bureau is dedicated to ensuring that veterans receive the benefits they have earned, through:

Case Advocacy:
Laws and regulations governing cases before the Veterans Administration can be complex. Veterans' Rights Bureau staff can help veterans understand their due process rights in filing claims for compensation or pension benefits.
Health Outreach:
Veterans' Rights Bureau staff make regular visits to area VA hospitals to ensure that patients' needs are being met.
Public Advocacy Forum:
Veterans are affected by many of the same issues that affect other consumers, seniors and persons with disabilities. For that reason, Veterans' Rights Bureau staff offer educational programs on these issues through the Public Advocacy Forum. For the date and location of the next event, call the Veterans Helpline.

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ISSUES

The Violence Against Women Policy Advisor works to reduce the incidence of sexual and physical assault of women and to ensure that criminals who abuse women are prosecuted aggressively. The Office of Attorney General has developed several programs to address domestic violence and sexual assault, including the Emergency Department Domestic Violence Training Project, a statewide program designed to teach hospital emergency room personnel to recognize, treat and refer victims of domestic violence.

The Office of the Attorney General has also initiated an aggressive response to date-rape drugs and sexual assault on college campuses by working with a collaboration of college administrators, law enforcement and rape crisis centers to develop prevention programs and response policies. For more information about these and other programs, call 312-814-2592 (TTY: 1-800-964-3013).

EDUCATION

Education is another key function of the Office of Attorney General. Informed citizens are key weapons in the fight against such issues as fraud and gang violence. The Attorney General also ensures that all citizens have access to the public records and information necessary to make them knowledgeable and active members of their communities.

I'M AL RIGHT

Al Right is a fictional character created by the Attorney General's office to speak to grade school children throughout Illinois. Al Right has been designed to provide children with advice that can help them understand, cope with and feel safe in the environment of their everyday lives.

Al shares his experiences with children and explains how he responds when faced with making choices on a wide variety of topics including the foods he eats, the friends he makes, the ways he controls his anger, how he spends his money and how he reacts to substance abuse and the threat of school violence.

The goal is to make children aware of what could happen to them, how they should respond to situations and who they can talk to regarding different situations. The Attorney General hopes that Al Right can help Illinois youth realize his motto -"Strong Voices, Smart Choices." For more information about the "I'm Al Right" campaign or materials, call 312-814-5005 (TTY: 1-800-964-3013).

CONSUMER FRAUD BUREAU

Uninformed consumers make easy targets. To help consumers understand their rights and avoid becoming victims of fraud, the Consumer Fraud Bureau offers a variety of educational materials and programs.

The bureau also accepts consumer complaints against businesses. When a dispute between a consumer and a business occurs, the Office of the Attorney General may be able to mediate the dispute. To receive a complaint form, visit our Web site or call the toll-free numbers below. When submitting a consumer complaint, please provide your complete address and phone number as well as the business' address and phone number.

Consumer Hotlines
Chicago 1-800-386-5438 (TTY:1-800-964-3013)
Springfield 1-800-243-0618 (TTY: 1-877-844-5461)
Carbondale 1-800-243-0607 (TTY: 1-877-785-9339)

CHARITABLE TRUSTS BUREAU

The Charitable Trusts Bureau monitors charitable organizations and professional fundraisers to ensure compliance with the law. The bureau maintains a registry of Illinois nonprofit organizations. To determine whether a charity is registered with the Attorney General's office, call 312-814-2595 (TTY: 1-800-964-3013). In the near future, you will also be able to access the Charitable Trusts database of registered charities via our office Web site www.IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov.

FRANCHISE BUREAU

The Franchise Bureau registers and monitors franchisors and brokers who seek to sell franchises in Illinois. The goal of the bureau -and the Franchise Disclosure Act it administers - is to provide presale disclosures and protection for prospective franchisees. The bureau provides information on the Franchise Disclosure Act, rules applicable to the offering of franchises and business and financial histories of franchisors. For more information call 217-782-4465 (TTY: 1-877-844-5461).

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

To ensure that citizens are able to access information about the Attorney General's office, this bureau processes Freedom of Information requests for public records. The office also distributes the Attorney General's Guide to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act and provides speakers who are experts on the requirements of the pertinent laws. For copies of the guide or to request a speaker, call 217-782-9005.

GANG CRIME PREVENTION CENTER

The Gang Crime Prevention Center reflects the Attorney General's commitment to keeping our children out of gangs and protecting our communities from the violence and drugs introduced by criminal street gangs.

The center develops, assesses and provides assistance in establishing programs designed to provide youths with viable alternatives to the gang lifestyle and to strengthen neighborhoods. The center also serves as a clearinghouse of valuable information, helping law enforcement, educators and citizens learn about what strategies are working in other communities. For more information visit our Web site at http://www.ag.state.il.us/gcpc_temp.htm or call 888-411-GCPC (TTY: 800-964-3013).

HEALTH CARE BUREAU

Through mediation, the Health Care Bureau helps consumers resolve issues they have with their health insurance companies and health care providers, primarily by ensuring that consumers receive the coverage they were promised. They do most of their work by phone or fax and resolve over 75 percent of their cases in favor of the consumer. The bureau can also assist consumers who have complaints regarding nursing homes.

SPEAKERS BUREAU

Speakers from the Office of the Attorney General are available to address audiences on topics ranging from consumer fraud to crime victims assistance. To arrange for a speaker for your organization or event, call 312-814-1214 (TTY: 1-800-964-3013) or 217-558-2350 (TTY: 1-877-844-5461).

REPRESENTATION

Representation is one of the constitutionally defined roles of the Illinois Attorney General: "The Attorney General shall be the legal officer of the State..." (Illinois Constitution of 1970, Art. V, Section 15). As such, the Attorney General is responsible for representing the interests of the people of Illinois and the state as a whole before the courts of this state and those of the United States. The Attorney General also acts as an assistant and advisor to State's Attorneys and the state's constitutional officers.

The following is a list of areas in which the Office of the Attorney General litigates:

Antitrust:
The Antitrust Bureau protects consumers by ensuring that businesses and individuals do not engage in illegal anticompetitive conduct.
Civil Appeals:
The Civil Appeals Division represents the state, its agencies and officers in all matters before the appellate courts, the Illinois Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court.
Civil Rights:
The Civil Rights Bureau enforces civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination where the violations have a substantial impact on the citizens of Illinois. In addition, the bureau provides information and referral services to individuals, participates in community education programs and advocates for legislation on civil rights issues that raise public policy concerns.
Consumer Protection:
The Consumer Protection Division seeks to protect Illinois consumers and businesses victimized by fraud, deception or unfair methods of competition. The office cannot represent any one individual in a lawsuit, but the office can and usually does offer a limited mediation program to assist in resolving disputes or complaints filed by individual consumers.
Disability Rights:
The Disability Rights Bureau enforces laws governing access to public facilities and provides legal and technical assistance to state and local government and advocacy organizations regarding compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Environmental Barriers Act.
Environmental Enforcement/Asbestos Litigation:
The Environmental Enforcement/Asbestos Litigation Division enforces Illinois' environmental laws by seeking to prevent the discharge of contaminants into our air, water and land.
General Law:
The General Law Bureau represents the state of Illinois, its officers, agencies, boards, commissions and employees in general civil litigation.
Land Acquisition:
The Land Acquisition Bureau represents state government in eminent domain matters and reviews documents pertaining to the acquisition of property for state use.
Industrial Commission:
The Industrial Commission Bureau defends state agencies in workers' compensation claims filed by state government employees and prosecutes employers who fail to comply with the mandatory insurance provisions of the Illinois Workers' Compensation Act and/or the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act.
Revenue:
The Revenue Litigation Bureau represents the Illinois Department of Revenue in the civil enforcement of state tax laws and administers Illinois' estate tax laws.

CRIMINAL PROSECUTION & TRIALS ASSISTANCE BUREAU

Upon request, the bureau sends experienced prosecutors to assist State's Attorneys in criminal cases. The bureau also initiates and prosecutes cases involving statewide interests, state benefits fraud, multicounty victims and state funds. The Gang Training and Trials Assistance unit provides similar assistance to State's Attorneys offices in prosecuting cases involving gang-related crime and violence.

ENVIRONMENTAL CRIMES BUREAU

The Office of the Attorney General established the Environmental Crimes Bureau. The bureau is dedicated to prosecuting criminal violations of the Environmental Protection Act and ensuring that those who intentionally pollute our environment are held responsible for their criminal action.

HIGH TECH CRIMES BUREAU

The High Tech Crimes Bureau provides investigation assistance, prosecution and prosecution assistance, training and public awareness activities in the area of high technology crimes including offenses such as fraud, runaway children, e-mail threats, hacking, software piracy, child exploitation, arson and homicides.

ILLINOIS INTERNET CHILD EXPLOITATION TASK FORCE

In cooperation with other law enforcement authorities, the task force investigates and prosecutes cases of Internet-facilitated child pornography, harassment and abduction. For more information, call 312-814-3505 (TTY: 1-800-964-3013). Incidents of online child exploitation can be reported by e-mail to: icau@mail.state.il.us.

LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS BUREAU

The Legislative Affairs Bureau provides counsel to the Attorney General on legislative issues pending in the General Assembly and advances initiatives that benefit the people of the state and the Office of the Attorney General.

The bureau also serves as the link between the Office of the Attorney General, the Illinois General Assembly and the Illinois Congressional delegation.

OPINIONS

The Opinions Bureau assists the Attorney General in carrying out her responsibilities to consult with and advise state officers and State's Attorneys in legal matters related to their duties. Opinions prepared by this bureau provide significant guidance in the operation of government. An archive of Attorney General opinions can be found on our office Web site www.ag.state.il.us.

STATEWIDE GRAND JURY

The Statewide Grand Jury Bureau works with other law enforcement agencies to gather, evaluate and present evidence on crimes related to narcotics, weapons and gang operations when that criminal activity crosses county lines. As part of the unit, the Illinois Narcotics Nuisance Abatement unit uses civil actions to shut down drug houses.

Other Resources

DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNICATIONS

The Department of Communications interacts with the news media to ensure the policies and activities of the Attorney General and her staff are communicated to the public clearly and accurately. Every week, the department answers hundreds of questions on pending legal cases and issues involving the office. The department also arranges press conferences, issues press releases and arranges interviews. Call 312-814-2518 in Chicago or 217-782-9090 in Springfield.

CONSTITUENT SERVICES BUREAU

The Constituent Services Bureau serves as the Attorney General's public liaison office. The bureau responds to public and intergovernmental inquiries of the Attorney General. Constituent services receives, controls and assigns executive correspondence to ensure timely and accurate responses.

The Constituent Services Bureau also responds to requests for messages from the Attorney General and special requests for the preparation of background briefing papers. The bureau works with all elements of the office in carrying out the Attorney General's mission and functions.

HUMAN RESOURCES

The Office of the Attorney General is dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities for persons of both sexes as well as all races, creeds and socioeconomic backgrounds. For a current listing of job opportunities with the office, visit our Web site at www.IllinoisAttorneyGeneral.gov.

WORLD WIDE WEB

Many of the services offered by the Office of the Attorney General are available via the Internet. The office's Web site (www.ag.state.il.us) also features a wide variety of information about the office and its programs. Downloadable consumer complaint forms and publications are also available.