The National Association of Prosecutor Coordinators (NAPC) has selected Jennifer Cifaldi, Assistant State’s Attorney in Adams County, Illinois, as the recipient of its 2016 National Traffic Safety Prosecutor of the Year Award.  NAPC is the national association of Prosecutor Coordinators and staff who provide leadership, training, legislative advocacy and support services for America's state and local prosecutors.  NAPC, in cooperation with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), annually presents the award to a prosecutor who has worked tirelessly to save lives in impaired driving and vehicular homicide cases.

Jennifer Cifaldi has been an Assistant State’s Attorney in the Adams County State Attorney’s office since 1996, and for each of the past 13 years she has annually handled 6,000 traffic cases, several hundred driving while impaired by alcohol or drug cases, and the offices vehicular homicide cases.  Jonathan Barnard, Adams County State’s Attorney stated:

“Under Jennifer’s leadership, in 2007 Adams County became the first county in Illinois to target repeat impaired driving offenders by obtaining search warrants for blood alcohol or drugs whenever an offender refused to submit to a standard breath test.  The results of the program have been outstanding.  In 2014 only 3% of arrested impaired drivers refused a test.  Impaired driving arrests are down from 486 cases in 2006 to 161.”

In addition, after witnessing the success of this “no refusal” program, Jennifer secured a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation to create an educational program used to train additional Illinois prosecutors.  This educational initiative is now in its seventh year.

“Jennifer Cifaldi has exhibited true leadership in DWI and vehicular homicide prosecution in Illinois for over a decade,” said Patrick Delfino, Executive Director of the Illinois State Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor’s office.  “This national recognition for her outstanding commitment to traffic safety prosecution makes all prosecutors in Illinois extremely proud of her.”

In summarizing her commitment to traffic safety prosecution, State’s Attorney Barnard stated: “Jennifer also takes an active approach on prevention.  She has an active outreach program to educate teens about the dangers of alcohol, drugs and driving.  She is a regular presenter to schools across Adams County and to driver education programs.  Her success as a prosecutor, her innovative approach to the repeat impaired driver problem, and her proactive efforts to educate teens and prevent impaired driving, are making our streets safer for everyone.”

Ms. Cifaldi will receive her national award on July 13, 2016, at the NAPC Summer Meeting in Philadelphia, PA.