Assistant State’s Attorney, Alternative Prosecutions Unit (APS Unit)

Job Title: Assistant State’s Attorney, Alternative Prosecutions Unit (APS Unit)

Reports to: Supervisor, Alternative Prosecutions Unit

Grade/Step: AYR/101-103

Salary: $102,495-$107,741 Salary range is provided by law; however, individual compensation is based on various factors unique to each candidate, including skill set, years and quality of experience. Any salary offered is non-negotiable.

Location: Leighton Courthouse, 2650 S. California, 13C30

Bureau: Criminal Prosecutions Bureau

Division: Alternative Prosecutions (APS) Unit

Application Deadline: October 15, 2025

Note: The Cook County State's Attorney's Office does not sponsor H1-B work visa petitions.

Position Description: The Alternative Prosecutions Unit of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office is seeking an Assistant State’s Attorney to join the Unit to cover up to three weekly deferred prosecution court calls and to assist with daily screening of cases for diversion.

Working Environment & Reporting Structure:

Alternative Prosecutions Unit (APS) diverts nonviolent offenders to one of 28 courts countywide that focus on increasing public safety through principles of rehabilitation and restoration. Through deferred prosecution and treatment courts, nonviolent offenders are given the opportunity to change their behavior and address underlying issues that led to an interaction with the criminal justice system. Offenders who participate in these programs are less likely to be rearrested and thus return to their communities better equipped to become healthy, productive members of society.

Assistant State’s Attorneys assigned to the APS Unit report directly to the Supervisor of the Unit and work closely with other members of the APS Unit. The APS Unit is part of the Criminal Prosecutions Bureau.

Duties/Requirements: The responsibilities of the Assistant State’s Attorney selected will include: preparing for and covering weekly court calls; daily screening of cases for diversion eligibility and facilitating transfer of those cases; collaboration and frequent communication with court stakeholders; attending court meetings and unit meetings; compiling statistics; and attending annual trainings.

Minimum Qualifications:

The candidate must possess:

• Candidates must have experience in First Appearance Court and Preliminary Hearings
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail;
• Sound judgment, critical thinking, and effective time management skills;
• Excellent communication skills and a willingness to collaborate with the court and community stakeholders;
• Willingness to actively engage in on-going trainings and meetings;
• Highly motivated and very reliable;
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to creatively problem solve;
• Strong prior performance evaluations;
• Willingness and knowledge to cover for partners in other diversion or treatment courts; and
• Must uphold the mission and values of the Office and support attorneys in doing the same.

Physical Requirements:

Light work. Light work involves lifting no more than 20 pounds at a time with frequent lifting or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 pounds. Even though the weight lifted may be very little, a job is in this category when it requires a good deal of walking or standing, or when it involves sitting most of the time with some pushing and pulling of arm or leg controls. To be considered capable of performing a full or wide range of light work, you must have the ability to do substantially all these activities. If someone can do light work, we determine that he or she can also do sedentary work, unless there are additional limiting factors such as loss of fine dexterity or inability to sit for long periods of time.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office (CCSAO) is an equal opportunity employer, which seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool. The CCSAO does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Upon request, the CCSAO will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals due to a disability or pregnancy. The EEOP report can be found on our website at www.cookcountystatesattorney.org.

Benefits

At Cook County, we believe in investing in you, our valued employee. We understand that your well-being directly impacts the quality of service we provide to our community. That's why we offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package designed to support your health, financial stability, and work-life balance. Here's a snapshot of what we offer:

Choose from a variety of medical, dental, and vision plans to best suit your lifestyle and needs. We provide a robust Paid Time Off (PTO) program, including vacation, personal, and sick leave, as well as 13 paid holidays. As a public service employer, our employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. Our Employee Assistance Program offers confidential counseling and referral services to help you navigate life's challenges. And of course, a pension plan through Cook County.

Follow this link to the Cook County Benefits and this link to Cook County Pension Fund if you want to learn more about our amazing benefit coverage. The CCSAO does not provide relocation assistance.