State’s Attorney Burke established the Special Victims Bureau (SVB) to handle sensitive cases involving domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking, hate crimes, and other violent crimes involving vulnerable victim populations, including children, seniors, and disabled individuals. and rape. Through a series of sweeping structural and policy changes, Burke has made domestic violence a priority of her administration and added resources to effectively advocate for victims who’ve experienced the unimaginable.
Cases in the SVB follow a vertical prosecution model, meaning the same prosecutor represents the State at every stage and at every hearing as a case progresses through the criminal justice system, with a heightened emphasis on victim and witness services. This trauma-informed approach provides consistency for everyone involved, allowing prosecutors to build trust and credibility with vulnerable victims and witnesses.
Cases handled in SVB include domestic violence and sexual assault, hate crimes, and crimes against children.