This shows the huge difference between two adjacent counties

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2023/03/24/column-carjacker-who-told-cops-hed-be-out-by-sunday-gets-22-years-in-prison/

Carjacker who told cops he’d be ‘out by Sunday’ gets 22 years in prison

By Ted Slowik

March 24, 2023

Will County authorities have delivered a chilling message to carjackers and other criminals terrorizing citizens in Chicago and Cook County.

You may get away with a slap on the wrist in Cook County, a Joliet-based judge and prosecutor seemed to say, but when our police officers catch you we will put you away for a long, long time.

That’s the only logical conclusion one could reach in the wake of a 22-year prison sentence for Jordan Henry, 28, of south suburban Harvey. Will County Judge Amy Bertani-Tomczak sentenced Henry Wednesday after she found him guilty during a bench trial in January.

Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow threw serious shade at Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx during a news conference Wednesday, when he announced the sentencing for crimes Henry committed in February 2022. Foxx’s office declined to comment Friday when asked for reaction.

Henry bragged to police who caught him about how he would get away with it, Glasgow said. Judges, police, prosecutors, jailers and others who uphold the law tend to dislike cocky criminals who refuse to show remorse.

“With his criminal history, and what he’s just done, and he thinks he’s in Cook County, and he thinks he’s going to be out by Sunday,” Glasgow told reporters. “Not a chance.”

Henry’s wild spree began in Lincoln Park one morning when he shoved a gun in the face of a victim exiting a 7-11, prosecutors said. That terrorized person fled with the keys to their vehicle, but a short time later Henry carjacked a 69-year-old Uber driver, according to a release from Glasgow’s office.

Henry led state troopers on a wild chase over many miles, south on the Dan Ryan Expressway, west on Interstate 80 to the northbound Tri-State Tollway and then south on I-55, prosecutors said. Shorewood police rolled out spike strips, which ended the joyride.

Then Henry fled on foot into a marshy area. Illinois state troopers unleashed a police dog named Hades and said Henry punched the K9 officer before police took him into custody, prosecutors said.

“In the ambulance he tells trooper (Erik) Uribe, ‘Don’t worry about it, I’ve done this before, I’ll be out by Sunday,’ and this was a Wednesday,” Glasgow told reporters.

Henry spent more than a year in the Will County Jail awaiting trial and sentencing. He’ll get credit for 424 days served. He was held on a $1 million bond, which is significant when you consider that Glasgow is a lead plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging the Illinois General Assembly’s authority to do away with cash bail. Glasgow and others argue the so-called SAFE-T Act violates the Illinois Constitution.

“Henry is a dangerous, violent criminal with a laundry list of prior convictions and current outstanding charges including a violent aggravated criminal sexual assault that took place while he was out on bond for other charges,” Glasgow said in a statement.

Glasgow slammed Foxx’s office for letting violent criminals off the hook too easily.

“In fact, he committed the crimes in this case while out on bond in Cook County in yet another case, involving the possession of a stolen vehicle,” Glasgow said.

Henry’s attorney did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment.

Foxx is a Democrat, but so is Glasgow, though he’s acting more and more like a Democrat In Name Only, or DINO. Foxx lives in Flossmoor and is well aware of concerns expressed by Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau and many other suburban officials that her office is too soft on crime.

Brazen criminals are becoming more and more bold about attacking innocent civilians in broad daylight because Foxx has a revolving door policy of catch and release, critics say. But don’t take my word for it. Consider the words of Jim Murphy, who wrote a scathing open letter when he resigned his longtime post as an assistant Cook County state’s attorney last July.

“This Administration routinely claims that they have shifted their focus from prosecuting low level crimes so that they can focus their resources on fighting violent crime and drivers of violence,” the insider wrote. “This is simply not true.”

It took a lot of courage for Murphy to publicly criticize Foxx, who has been twice elected to lead the office where he devoted 25 years of public service.

“This Administration is more concerned with political narratives and agendas than with prosecuting violent crime,” Murphy wrote.

Ouch.

It’s easier for Foxx to claim her critics are politically motivated when the attacks come from Republicans and Q-Anon conspiracy theorists who whine about billionaire George Soros donating money to her campaign.

Some loonies just lose their minds when rich folks like Soros or Gov. J.B. Pritzker use some of their wealth to support Democrats. But when you point out that an equal or greater number of rich folks give money to Republican candidates and causes they think that’s just fine and dandy.

Foxx has a harder time, though, dismissing criticism from a career civil servant like Murphy or a fellow elected Democratic prosecutor like Glasgow, who seems to embrace “Star Trek” Captain James Kirk’s challenge to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Glasgow summoned some serious fortitude when he charged Henry for crimes that occurred miles away in a different jurisdiction. In doing so, he sent a clear message to Foxx. If you won’t charge them, we will, Glasgow seemed to say.

Make no mistake. Henry’s conviction and sentencing is a watershed moment in Illinois law, justice and politics. Prosecutors occasionally create fanfare to make an example out of a defendant. When they do this, they’re telling other would-be criminals to think before they act, that there will be serious consequences for their conduct.

Foxx has been sending a completely different message to violent criminals. She’s been playing good cop, saying how the system has been so unfair to so many and how restorative justice policies can ultimately reduce crime.

I get it. I’ve been among the strongest advocates for equality, inclusion and diversity in the Southland. I’ve called out people and policies that create persistent inequity in housing, education, employment and other opportunities.

I’ve done my best to show how things make a lot of sense when viewed through the lens of wealth disparity. But I’m 100% with those who believe we as a society are safer and better off when violent criminals are punished and taken off the streets.

August 2, 2024. Tags: Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, Soft on crime, Will County. Soft on crime. Leave a comment.