Trish Redman knew she wanted to be an attorney in grammar school, and, after a brief detour in college, she’s been living that dream every day for more than 15 years. Her current position as assistant state’s attorney for the Peoria County State’s Attorney’s Office allows her to assist the most vulnerable of the population: children.
Redman, who started college as a nursing major because it seemed more palatable to other people, quickly redirected her studies back to her original goal. “I never regretted my decision and am proud I pursued my dreams. After years of experience in private practice, I knew it was time for me to use my talent and the skills I’d gained to make an impact in the community. Prosecutors have a love for the law and for seeing that things are done fairly and that justice is served. I wanted to be a part of that philosophy,” she said.
As assistant state’s attorney, she represents the State of Illinois and prosecutes those who’ve abused or neglected their children, as well as juveniles who’ve committed crimes. “I have about 150 new cases each year, in addition to other existing cases,” she said. “On a daily basis, I’m in court two-and-a-half days a week and then have the remaining time to prepare for my hearings and trials. I have two to three trials per week where evidence is presented to determine whether a child has been abused, neglected, or if their environment is injurious to their welfare. I also have several other hearings during the week to monitor the progress of parents seeking to remedy the reasons their children were removed from them. The goal is always to try and reunify the parents with their children. Sometimes, due to the lack of effort by the parents, that isn’t possible, and their parental rights are terminated.”
Redman said children are brought into the system for reasons including drug usage by parents, domestic violence, physical abuse, abandonment, failure to thrive, babies born with cocaine in their system, deplorable living conditions, or the inability of parents to care for minor children for reasons such as mental health issues.
The often-disturbing issues she sees every day can be difficult, she said. “At the end of the day, after hearing testimony and reading medical records and reports of the deplorable conditions some children live with, it’s hard to imagine how someone could treat another so poorly. It’s awful to see the conditions some children must endure. Yet, there are many parents able to refocus, change their life priorities, and be reunited with their children. There are also children who remain in the state’s care but flourish in foster homes. It’s wonderful to see their progress and watch them grow, knowing their lives would have been much different—most likely horrific—had they not been in the state’s care. We have amazing foster parents who are dedicated to role modeling appropriate behavior for these children and providing them with a stable, nurturing home life. I commend them for their work and hope more will want to become foster parents.”
In addition to the work she does in the State’s Attorney’s Office, Redman devotes time to pro bono work. “There are many people who need legal services and are unable to pay for the services. It’s also difficult to navigate the legal system, and having someone help you through the process can be a positive experience,” she said. “I’ve done many pro bono divorce, custody, and child support cases. I do it because I believe we should all share our talents and volunteer our time to help our community. Peoria is fortunate to have a strong volunteer base of attorneys, but there’s always more we can do. It’s important that all individuals have access to fair and effective legal services and that lawyers volunteer their time each year to accomplish this goal.”
There are several misperceptions about attorneys that persist, Redman said, including that it’s a male-dominated field. “Current law school populations show up to 50 percent of the students are females, and there are more female attorneys and judges than ever before. The public also has a misconception that all lawyers are mean, ruthless, and untrustworthy. Of course there are always sensationalized cases you hear about, but they’re more the exception than the rule, as with any field of work. If you’ve ever needed the services of an attorney, you usually find the experience perfectly acceptable. I find those most vocal about attorneys have never had any direct experience with one. As for prosecutors, they aren’t there to win at all costs. They are there to seek the truth, speak and pursue what’s right, and practice their profession with integrity and humility. The State’s Attorney’s Office is filled with some of the brightest and most talented attorneys I’ve ever met. They’re dedicated, hard working, and committed to serving the public. The community is fortunate to have them on their side.”
She also said there’s a lot more to the legal profession than what Hollywood would have the public believe. “It’s a lot of hard work and long hours. It isn’t glamorous work, and it’s nothing like you see on TV at all. Television shows are far, far from reality. Programs about law and crime scene investigation are to entertain you, and they do an excellent job of it.”
Like every career, Redman said hers is filled with both challenges and wonderful aspects. “It’s highly rewarding and motivating to know you’re helping make a difference in people’s lives and improving and protecting the community. I get to do something I’m passionate about. I love to come to work every day. My position also deals with the very personal and future interests of infants, children, adolescents, and families. That’s the most difficult part. It’s challenging in that it takes a special internal balance of principles and judgment to bring results that are right but not righteous, strong but not over the top, and best for the target of the case based on the law and past experience. I hope I can do that.”
Her advice for other women considering a different career opportunity: it’s never too late. “My roommate in law school was 50 years old when she graduated, after spending years working as a secretary. Her life experiences helped her become a very successful attorney with a thriving practice. I encourage women of all ages to pursue their dreams, whether that be the field of law or any other career. You’ll never regret it.” TPW