Candidate profile: Crystal Uhe

Name: Crystal Uhe

Hometown: Alhambra, Illinois

Occupation: Madison County First Assistant State’s Attorney

Position seeking: Madison County State’s Attorney

Party: Democrat

Incumbent: No

Website or social media page: Crystal Uhe for State’s Attorney on Facebook

Why are you running and why should people vote for you? I am proud to have dedicated my entire career to public service right here in Madison County where I grew up. It has been my passion to serve the citizens of Madison County by giving a voice to the victims of violent crimes and by working alongside the men and women of our local law enforcement community to ensure Madison County remains a safe place to live, work and raise a family. I have worked in the Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office for over fifteen years, beginning as a college intern. I worked my way up through the office becoming a supervisor for the misdemeanor and traffic division, Chief of the entire Criminal Division and most recently being named as the First Assistant State’s Attorney. I now supervise 35 Assistant State’s Attorney’s and oversee the Violent Crimes Division, the Children’s Justice Division and our Problem Solving Courts.

As a member of the Violent Crimes Division, I have been involved in hundreds of criminal investigations involving violent crimes, and have obtained convictions in over 100 First Degree Murder, Attempt First Degree Murder, Predatory Criminal Sexual Assault, Home Invasion, Armed Robbery and other homicide related cases. I have received certification in the areas of Gang Homicide Investigation and Gang Prosecution by the National Gang Crime Research Center and I was honored to be named the 2019 Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis Prosecutor of the Year. Outside of the office, I have served as a member of the Madison County Bar Association and the Illinois Prosecutor’s Bar Association.

I am an instructor for the Southern Illinois Law Enforcement Commission (SILEC) and an adjunct professor for Lewis and Clark School of Criminal Justice. I have previously served as a board member for the Phoenix Crisis Center in Granite City and am currently a Board Member for Senior Services Plus in Alton, Illinois and the Madison County Child Advocacy’s (CAC) Advisory and Friends Boards of Directors.

What would your goals be, if elected? One of my goals as State’s Attorney is to take my experience prosecuting homicide cases, and expand the office’s focus on Cold Case Homicides. I plan to use my training, experience and modern approach to investigating and prosecuting unsolved homicide cases in hopes of bringing answers to those who long for closure. I also plan to continue the Elder Abuse Initiative that the State’s Attorney’s Office has begun. I will place resources into educating this growing and vulnerable population on scams and crimes targeting the elderly.

I will make it known that I will aggressively prosecute offenders when crimes against this population occur. Finally, I intend to focus the office’s resources on continuing to combat the opioid epidemic that has ravaged our communities. My goals would be to provide resources and treatment to those affected by the opioid crisis through the use of our problem solving courts and to hold accountable the dealers who are bringing these drugs into Madison County.

What issues are most pressing for your constituency? Madison County citizens want first and foremost to keep Madison County a safe place to live, work and raise their families. They want an experienced and fair-minded prosecutor who has demonstrated that they have the modern skills and knowledge necessary to vindicate victims of crimes and to hold offenders accountable. Madison County citizens also want resources for treatment and alternatives to prison in cases involving low level crimes. As First Assistant State’s Attorney, and supervisor for the State’s Attorney’s participation in the Madison County Veteran’s Court, Mental Health Court, Drug Court and the Domestic Violence Accountability Court, I will continue to ensure that these resources are available.

This story was originally published March 2, 2020 at 1:53 PM with the headline "Candidate profile: Crystal Uhe."