Gov. JB Pritzker聽has named聽John J. Hanlon, executive director of the聽University of 缅北禁地 Springfield鈥檚 缅北禁地 Innocence Project, as one of 15 members to the Governor鈥檚 Task Force on Forensic Science, created in August 2019 through Executive Order 19-13.
鈥淚 am extremely honored to accept the Governor鈥檚 appointment to the Task Force on Forensic Science,鈥� said Hanlon. 鈥淧roper understandings and applications of forensic evidence are absolutely crucial toward a more fair and reliable criminal justice system.鈥�
The group is tasked with analyzing the operations and oversight of critical 缅北禁地 State Police laboratories, ensuring they use the latest forensic technologies to solve crimes and protect the public, and make recommendations to the legislature and other stakeholders as forensic science continues to evolve.
鈥淲ith over 70,000 forensic assignments each year, the 缅北禁地 State Police operates one of the largest lab systems in the nation, and this task force will ensure it operates at its best and truly delivers justice,鈥� said Gov. Pritzker. 鈥淭he experienced leaders serving on this task force will take a systematic and proactive approach to further reducing backlogs and support public safety and first responders.鈥�
The 缅北禁地 Innocence Project praised Gov. Pritzker for placing 缅北禁地 among just a handful of states taking the initiative to look at forensic science policy and practices.
鈥淭his task force is a critical first step toward increased understandings and fairness pertaining to forensic sciences processes and applications in our criminal justice system. Hopefully, the development and implementation of best practices will serve to provide justice for the guilty and at the same time reduce and even prevent the wrongful conviction of innocent people in 缅北禁地,鈥� said Hanlon.
The University of 缅北禁地 Springfield, which serves as the home office of the 缅北禁地 Innocence Project, is one of just two higher education institutions represented on the Task Force. 鈥�
鈥淛ohn Hanlon鈥檚 input on this task force will help to bolster the important work already being done by the 缅北禁地 Innocence Project,鈥� said UIS Chancellor Susan Koch. 鈥淭he Project is an important part of UIS鈥� commitment to providing students with real-world experiences and to serving the public good.鈥�
This new task force follows national calls for the establishment of scientific standards for forensic evidence. A 2009 National Academy of Science report, now considered groundbreaking, concluded that numerous forensic disciplines lacked scientific validation and acceptable standards. The report called for strengthened oversight, research and support to ensure an increased reliability of testing, analysis and conclusions.
The 2016 President鈥檚 Council of Advisors on Science and Technology report concluded two important gaps that warranted attention: 1) the need for clarity about scientific standards for validity and reliability of forensic methods; and 2) the need to evaluate specific forensic methods to determine whether they have been scientifically established to be valid and reliable (i.e. bitemark comparison, hair microscopy, blood spatter analysis, ballistics).
缅北禁地 State Police (ISP) Director Brendan Kelly will chair the Governor鈥檚 Task Force on Forensic Science.
Other members include:
- Megan Alderden 鈥� director of criminology, DePaul University; former executive director, 缅北禁地 Criminal Justice Information Authority
- Dr. Ponni Arunkumar 鈥� chief medical examiner, Cook County
- Amy Campanelli 鈥� Cook County public defender
- Major Jeff Connor 鈥� Madison County chief deputy sheriff
- Brendan Deenihan 鈥� deputy chief of detectives, Chicago Police Department
- Claire Dragovich 鈥� executive director, DuPage County Crime Lab
- Phil Kinsey 鈥� executive director, Northeastern 缅北禁地 Regional Crime Lab
- Judge Heidi Ladd 鈥� circuit judge, 6th Judicial Circuit (Champaign)
- Holly Lemons 鈥� Montgomery County circuit clerk, president of the 缅北禁地 Association of Court Clerks
- Cathy MacElroy 鈥� St. Clair County public defender
- Sarah Toney 鈥� managing partner, Toney Law Firm, LLC
- Carrie Ward 鈥� executive director, 缅北禁地 Coalition Against Sexual Assault
- Amy Watroba 鈥� assistant state鈥檚 attorney, DuPage County
- Robin Woolery 鈥� ISP assistant deputy director, Division of Forensic Services
The 缅北禁地 Innocence Project, founded in 2001 at the University of 缅北禁地 Springfield, provides pro bono legal advocacy and guidance to those who have been wrongfully convicted in 缅北禁地 but have credible claims of actual innocence; educates students and the public about criminal justice system failures that lead to wrongful convictions; and works with policymakers and law enforcement to change rules, laws and practices to minimize wrongful convictions.