The following is the response to a Northern Star questionnaire sent to all local candidates for the 2020 election. Answers have been lightly edited for clarity and consistency.

Name:

Anna M. Wilhelmi

Education:

Bachelor of Arts Sociology, Emphasis Criminology, NIU Summa Cum Laude

Juris Doctor (Law Degree) NIU College of Law Cum Laude

Position Running For:

DeKalb County States Attorney

Related Experience:

Extensive Criminal law experience as Private Criminal Defense Attorney

Assistant Public Defender

Argued orally and briefed before the Illinois Supreme Court

Represented Appellants in the Second Appellate District

I have also handled parental termination cases, child support, juvenile delinquency, abuse/neglect, domestic violence cases, civil cases.

Why are you running:

I am running because we desperately need major reform in our criminal justice system, and I can do my part in that endeavor.

Goals you want to accomplish if elected:

I would like to work to eliminate cash bail from our system pretrial. The ability or inability to post cash to get out of custody pretrial does not relate in any way as to whether a person is a flight or safety risk. This cash bail system punishes poor people and benefits those with monetary means.

We have to create community trust in the BIPOC community. I order to do so, we at a minimum must hold law enforcement accountable for their wrongful acts. This includes police excessive use of force and over-policing of black and brown communities. Wrongful acts by police officers de-legitimize law enforcement and makes us all less safe.

We need community collaboration. I want to establish in my office a community connection collaborative in order to connect directly with community members about complaints regarding the relationship between the community and the police.

I intend to establish a Do Not Call List for officers who have had excessive force or other credibility complaints.

I intend to maximize alternatives to incarceration such as drug court, Pretrial diversion, Mental health Court, Veterans Court, prosecutorial deferment, restorative justice, and other means for non-violent offenses so that we can reduce the massive system of incarceration that this country has at this time.

Why students/residents should vote for you:

Students and residents should vote for me because I will do my part to make sure that the criminal justice system is in fact a “justice” system that is fair and just for all. I will work for all of the people of this County and will start with the goals above.

The Northern Star is publishing the candidates’ responses to our questions as they are given to us. The Northern Star is not endorsing local candidates.