Sangamon County Prosecutors Honored for Championing Crime Victims' Rights

A Statewide Spotlight on Local Advocates

Sangamon County State's Attorney John Milhiser and members of his victim advocacy team received the Champion of Victims' Rights Award from Marsy's Law for Illinois on October 20, in recognition of their work supporting crime victims throughout Sangamon County. The recognition shines a statewide light on a team quietly doing some of the most emotionally demanding work in the criminal justice system — standing beside survivors when they need it most.

The award was presented during a ceremony at the Sangamon County Complex in Springfield by Jennifer Bishop Jenkins, State Director of Marsy's Law for Illinois, honoring Milhiser and his staff for their commitment to ensuring crime victims are treated with fairness, dignity, and respect throughout the criminal justice process. It is not the kind of award handed out casually. The recognition specifically honors those who treat crime victims with "compassion and commitment" to ensure fairness.

The Team Behind the Recognition

In addition to Milhiser, four members of the Sangamon County State's Attorney's Office were recognized for their work assisting crime victims: Abbey Tappenbeck, Director of Victim/Witness Services; Holli Gleason, Assistant Director of Victim/Witness Services; Amber Calvert, Victim/Witness Advocate for the Felony Division; and Kelli Montejano, Victim/Witness Advocate for the Domestic Violence Division.

State Director Jennifer Bishop Jenkins noted that Milhiser has been a champion of crime victims' rights since the early push to pass the law, and praised the advocacy team for putting "their hearts and souls into doing a really difficult job for people who are going through the worst times in their lives," helping crime victims through every stage of the criminal justice process.

Jenkins also pointed to the team's treatment of crime victims from high-profile cases like the Sonya Massey murder case to criminal cases that have attracted far less public attention. That breadth of commitment — from cases that dominate headlines to those that never make the news — is precisely what sets this team apart.

What Marsy's Law Actually Means for Victims

Marsy's Law for Illinois was adopted by voters in 2014 as an amendment to the Illinois Constitution, expanding crime victims' rights and making those rights legally enforceable. Before its passage, victims often found themselves on the outside of a process designed around the accused. The law changed that, giving survivors enforceable rights to notification, protection, and participation at every stage of a case.

As a previous award recipient noted, Marsy's Law helps victims and their families work through a system that was historically built to protect the rights of the accused. That context makes the daily work of advocates like Tappenbeck, Gleason, Calvert, and Montejano all the more significant — they are the human face of a constitutional promise.

A Culture of Accountability and Support

Milhiser emphasized the weight of that responsibility: "No one asks to be a victim of a crime. We take very seriously the responsibility we have to make sure crime victims in our county feel supported and heard. The amazing victim advocates in our office are dedicated to helping survivors navigate the criminal justice process in a way we hope helps them heal."

Milhiser also stressed the importance of early outreach, saying his office works to identify victims quickly and "let them know that they have a voice in our office" — because "they are part of the process, and we are there to support them." Notably, Champaign County State's Attorney Julia Rietz received the same award two months prior, suggesting Marsy's Law for Illinois is actively building a network of recognized advocates across the state. As that network grows, so does the cultural expectation that crime victims deserve more than a case number — they deserve a champion.