Gary L. Spencer

Many people believe the sole purpose of the State's Attorney is to prosecute persons who are believed to have committed criminal offenses within Whiteside County. The State's Attorney and his staff do spend the majority of their time dealing with criminal cases, but they perform many other functions. Listed below are the major functions:

• prosecute persons alleged to have violated criminal statues of the State of Illinois.
• prosecute persons alleged to have violated traffic laws of the State of Illinois.
• prosecute persons alleged to have violated conservation laws of the State of Illinois.
• provide legal advice to the Whiteside County Board.
• prosecute juveniles (minors under the age of 17 years) believed to have committed criminal offenses.
• represent the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services by providing legal advice and
• filing petitions in Juvenile Court on behalf of abused, neglected or dependent minors.
• provide legal advice to and represent the Whiteside County Sheriff, Circuit Clerk, Treasurer, Coroner, County Clerk and Recorder Supervisor of Assessments, Health Department, and other county agencies and departments.
• prosecute persons alleged to have violated county animal control and health related ordinances.
• represent and defend the county in real estate tax objections.
• represent the Regional Superintendent of the Schools.
• represent persons who have become victims of domestic violence.
• represent the Department of Public Aid and the Department of Labor in public aid and unemployment compensation fraud cases.
• provide legal advice as to criminal matters, for law enforcement agencies operating within Whiteside County.
  Many times people come to or call the State's Attorney's Office seeking assistance on matters that are not within the legal duties of the Office. We can often refer the person seeking assistance to the appropriate place for help. However, it is important that people understand the legal limitations of the State's Attorney's Office.

The State's Attorney's Office Cannot:

• 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, 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.

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