Prairie State Wire

Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, Missing and Murdered Chicago Women Task Force met April 22.

Here are the minutes provided by the task force:

Task Force Member Attendance	Present	WebEx	Absent
Verda Bhatti, Between Friends			X
State Representative Kambium Buckner			X
Margaret Duval, Ascend Justice			X
Jennifer Greene, Life Span			X
Representative Jackie Haas		X
Senator Mattie Hunter		X
Major Abigail Keller, Illinois State Police	X
Thomas Lemmer, Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police	X
Lisa Masinter, Illinois Department of Public Health – Designee Cara Bergo			X
Rebeca Perrone, Cook County Medical Examiner	X
Amanda Pyron, The Network Advocating Against Domestic Violence		X
Scheherazade Tillet, A Long Walk Home			X
Teresa Smith			X
Cristina Villarreal, Planned Parenthood of Illinois		X
Diane Walsh, Office of the Chief Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County			X
Carrie Ward, Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault		X

Also present were:

Deputy Chief Kevin Bruno, Deputy Chief, Chicago Police Department

Jason Hernandez, Cook County Sheriff’s Department

Sergeant Pete Medina, Chicago Police Department

Commander Jason Moran, Cook County Sheriff’s Department

Chief Antoinette Ursitti, Chief Bureau of Detectives Chicago Police Department

ICJIA Staff Present:

Kimberly Atkins, ICJIA, Strategic Project

Administrator, Editor

Jacob Derrick, ICJIA Policy Government Affairs

Dawn English, ICJIA Associate General Counsel

Mary Ratliff, ICJIA, Strategic Project Director

Amanda Vasquez, ICJIA Research Manager

Minutes by: Kimberly Atkins ICJIA Strategic Project Administrator

I. CALL TO ORDER/ OPENING REMARKS

• Chairperson/ Senator Mattie Hunter called the meeting to order 12:30 P.M.

II. ROLL CALL

• Dawn English, ICJIA Associate General Counsel took roll call and announced that quorum was not reached

III. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES FROM March 25, 2024

Motion: To approve the minutes of March 25, 2024, held for next scheduled taskforce meeting

IV. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

• No additions to the agenda currently.

V. NEW BUSINESS

• Chairperson Senator Mattie Hunter calls the meeting to order, welcomes the task force members and assigns Mary Ratliff as Co-Chair for this meeting.

• Mary Ratliff provides each of the panel members with the opportunity to introduce themselves. Major Abigail Keller provides introduction, Jason Hernandez, Cook County Sheriff’s Department and Chief Antoinette Ursitti, Chicago Police Department provides introduction of team with Sergeant Medina and Greg Gugger to address questions.

• Ms. Ratliff starts with the previously submitted questions from Ms. Macklemore: Standardization within investigations between each of the agencies

• Chief Ursitti provides overview of preliminary investigation, notification, and initial search for missing persons falling in alignment with best practices. The Chicago Police Organization command structure works with the information that is available to them at the time.

• Commander Jarrod Smith adds that each of the police agencies may have their own rules and regulations that are aligned between the agencies, best practices. Each of the departments may respond based upon the available resources that may require reallocation

• Major Abigail Keller added the agencies use common databases such as the LEEDS database where missing persons cases are entered. This database uploads into the National Crime Center and becomes viewable to law enforcement throughout the country.

• Commander Jason Moran- concurred Common databases LEEDS and NamUS for missing and unidentified persons. This database may hold biometrics and comparisons that aid law enforcement. Currently the agency may enter cases into the databases between 30 and 60 days but there will be changes that will be implemented to shorten the gap that the language is changed to “shall” instead of “May”. Abigail Keller supports information is Illinois missing person act must make entry into Leeds and NamUs. Each agency must have their own missing persons policies and all available information on missing persons into the system. There are multiple avenues to share information and through NamUS that is available to the public.

• Jennifer Green: Question: How many of the investigative practices are required according to the Chicago Police Department considered best practices vs. policy? What components are recommended or best practices?

• Chief Ursitti: the CPD references policy that is available to the public on the department directives database. The database will show where law is being referenced. Chief references the Missing Persons Identification Act where the law is mentioned through the policy. The database link can be shared around with the taskforce.

• Commander Jason Moran- Mandatory entry for all law enforcement into LEEDS is consistent across the agencies.

• Q: Is there a streamlined system for writing reports or does each agency use its own methods for writing and investigation report? Missing person case must be detailed on a police report and new information is added on a supplementary report.

• NIBRS is one of the reporting systems that all agencies may use that people have access. There are separate and different data collection repositories. Major Abigail Keller provides explanation of

o Methods of tracking and collecting data on violence and disappearances

▪ Look at the numbers to identify what the data is telling us. ▪ What are the reporting requirements today to collect information and why.

▪ Where is the data gathered? NIBRS, Medical Examiner, CPD website are locations with comp stats reports.

▪ Chicago PD became the largest user of LEADS /NCIC and reporting into FBI’s ViCAP (Criminal Apprehension Program)

▪ LEADS/NCIC entries reflect a high number of missing persons reports added and removed from LEADS

o NAMUS is a database which public has access

• Amanda Pyron -We recognize there are challenges, in the fact that there is the existence of databases. However, this does not negate the fact that there are a lot of missing and murdered women in Chicago that we haven't really addressed or haven't done anything to prevent or intervene. Ms. Pyron asked of the group of law enforcement officials, what they think the missing pieces are? There is the identification for what is being done but what are some of the missing pieces the task force needs to focus.

• Commander Moran – Disagrees, confirms that the Illinois Sheriff’s office has formed a Missing Persons Unit in 2021, dedicated to Missing Women in Cook County and state. There have been successes and unit dedicated staff to the issue. The Illinois Sheriff’s department believes they have done what is necessary to have a dedicated department to this issue.

• Chief Antoinette Ursitti mentioned how the agencies are looking on how to collaborate internally and among our agencies. Consistent coordination across the board at in our agency and others is a goal the agencies are looking to accomplish. The agency is looking at alternate responses and options for example, youth who are reported away from home, or who have been missing for more than 30 days without the permission of their parents. Chief Ursitti recommended to leverage some outside resources to determine if there is a way to help families and identify the type of support is needed for them. Additionally, identify families who have received assistance or resources outside of the CPD. Chicago Police Department is oftentimes in an investigative capacity, however the agency is looking to mitigate the reoccurrence of certain events in which collaboration across our agencies may assist.

• Chief Ursitti mentions active listening to bring in outside resources whenever appropriate to support the circumstances the family has encountered.

• Pete Medina-CPD provides information about what CPD is doing regarding the theme for National Crime Victim week. This is significant, under the leadership of Superintendent Larry Snelling, this is the 1st time Chicago Police Department, Bureau of Detectives, has held multiple community engagement events throughout the dates of April 21st, April 27th.

• Pete Medina-CPD shares information that has been spread all throughout the entire city of Chicago to focus on national crime victim rates week, and some of these events yesterday, for example, turned out to be a successful community resource Expo, which displayed resource community partners over 30 at the 35th in Michigan, Chicago Police Department headquarters, where we welcomed in the community partners, we want them in. There have been speakers from the office of the attorney general. We want to share this information with anyone who was just showing interest of this program who wants to help because there is help. If there are people that are seeking help and using this as a connection to identify these needs and then connect to support. Medina invites all members to a youth violence event in the 12- district community room and thanks members and would like to forward information.

• Mary Ratliff thanks the group for the information and asks for information to be along to Kimberly Atkins and or herself to share with the group

• Ms. Ratliff mentions a second part of the question. How do we compare cases and pick up on victimization patterns among departments?

• Commander Jason Moran replies that there is intelligence analyst to look for patterns or trends, data repositories are another.

• Chief Antoinette Ursitti -explains terms of investigating as more comprehensive than an isolated incident. The investigators may look at things are thoughtful and critical which is consistent across Agencies.

Investigators look for a trend that may also be recognized nationally to integrate that understanding into police practices.

• Mary Ratliff presents a question from Jennifer Green. What types of cases get sorted in the miscellaneous section of the missing persons located categories? What measures are in place to hold officers accountable for submitting the reports within the 14-day time limit and who supervises the process? Ms. Green is not in to address the questions; however, Commander Jarrod Smith provides comment that the supervisor is responsible to assure the person creating the report does so within timeframe needed.

• Commander Jason Moran comments that this is consistent with their reporting as well for missing person cases.

• Mary Ratliff turns over to taskforce members Commander Jason Moran comments on cases where there are subjects are missing voluntarily and do not want to be located. In this case they would need to make a statement to a person responsible for their welfare to make a decision not to be located. In this case a missing persons case may not be opened. When there are young adults that elect not to return home are a lot of the juvenile cases of missing persons. Background for disappearances and patterns are things that the department may review.

• Commander Jarrod Smith – addresses process for handling missing person juveniles’ cases. The family is notified, and Chicago PD will work with the families to help the families and the juvenile to strengthen the link and provide the services that CPD offers. In the cases of adults, if they are not wanting to be located then the police department takes it into consideration.

• Senator Hunter takes the floor and extends condolences for the last 2 police officers that were shot and killed. Condolences are extended for the Chicago Police department for the loss and all Law enforcement. This is disturbing with the lack of regard some have shown toward law enforcement. We may need to have more conversations on these issues of violence and look to addressing legislative moves to address these issues.

VI. PUBLIC COMMENT

The floor was opened by Senator Hunter for public comment.

• Mandy Sark a volunteer missing person's advocate, Co, founder of Chicago Missing Person Guild. They were in attendance, and it was very informative. Thank you for the updates to the missing person registry.

Joseph Welch via email to address cases that were not on NamUs.

• Commander Jarod Smith explained that appropriate cases are entered into NameUs not all cases are entered. If there are known cases, please make Mr. Smith aware.

• Commander Moran – NamUs is during the 60 days cases are entered into the system. Missing persons cases cannot be looked at routine when conducting investigations.

VII. ADJOURNMENT

• Next Meeting is Wednesday, May 22, 2024, from 12:30 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. Location Hybrid Webex & Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, 2121 W. Harrison, Chicago, Il. 60612

Motion: To adjourn the meeting.

Motion By: Senator Hunter

Seconded By: Carrie Ward

Vote Taken by Dawn English: Meeting adjourned.

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