A $52,000 state grant funding domestic violence prevention services across Downers Grove, Woodridge and Westmont advanced Tuesday, Aug. 4, after the DuPage County Judicial and Public Safety Committee approved the funding along with a new vehicle for the State's Attorney's cold case unit.

Both items now head to the full County Board for final approval.

Family violence grant

The grant from the Illinois Family Violence Coordinating Council funds the 18th Judicial Circuit Court's coordinated response to domestic violence across DuPage County for program year 2027, under Intergovernmental Agreement No. 322718.

The circuit court's Family Violence Coordinating Council, chaired by Judge Ann Celine Walsh, focuses on intimate partner abuse, child abuse, teen dating violence and abuse of persons with disabilities and older adults. State's Attorney Robert Berlin also serves as a member.

The committee had already approved a $43,472 contract in June for Diana Hightower to serve as the FVCC coordinator through June 30, 2027. The new grant provides additional program funding on top of that staffing.

Cold case unit vehicle

The committee approved a $47,117.22 contract with Sutton Ford for a 2026 Ford F-150 truck assigned to the State's Attorney's cold case unit investigator. The contract runs from Aug. 11 through Nov. 30, 2026, under a Sourcewell cooperative purchasing agreement.

The approval follows committee member Jim Zay's request at the June 16 meeting for more information from the State's Attorney's Office about a cold case raised during public comment.

Forensic science grant pending

The committee received notification of a pending $162,255 Paul Coverdell Forensic Science grant application for the DuPage County Sheriff's Office crime lab. The federal grant, administered through the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, has not yet been awarded.

Other actions

The committee approved a $110,250 budget transfer for the Sheriff's Office to cover payment to the Cloudgavel Warrant System and authorized the sale of inventory from the Sheriff's Office to the Village of Villa Park Police Department. Committee Chair Lucy Evans presided over the meeting.

All approved items require final action by the full County Board.