Courier presents at the Midwest Gang Investigator’s Association Annual Conference

BOONE COUNTY – Boone County State’s Attorney Michelle Courier was recently honored to present for the Midwest Gang Investigator’s Association’s Annual Conference on her lawsuit against the Latin Kings street gang under the Illinois Street Gang Terrorism Omnibus Prevention Act.

Courier filed the lawsuit in 2009 against more than 30 known Latin King Gang members in the Belvidere and Boone County area. As a result, orders were entered prohibiting the gang members from associating in public with each other or known gang members and other gang related activity. State’s Attorney Courier was also awarded $14,518 in attorney fees.

Gang related violence and crimes in Belvidere crime have dropped significantly since the lawsuit. According to the annual reports from the Belvidere Police Department, gang graffiti has also dropped significantly.

In 2008, the year prior to the lawsuit, Belvidere had 690 reports of graffiti. In 2014, Belvidere had only 329 reports.

“I was proud to take on the gang lawsuit and honored to share the positive impact it had on our community with other law enforcement agencies,” Courier said.