Cordelia Coppleson
Bureau Chief, Law Enforcement Training, Office of the Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, Criminal Enforcement Division
2023
Cordelia is an Assistant Attorney General, assigned to the Criminal Enforcement Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, and is the chief of the Law Enforcement Training Bureau. Cordelia is responsible for helping and supporting prosecutors and law enforcement agencies as they implement a variety of laws through adopting policies, training, and other requirements. She is available to answer any questions as to law enforcement and their obligations and duties under the law. Cordelia has trained thousands of police officers in trauma-informed sexual assault investigations. Cordelia has trained hundreds of prosecutors throughout Illinois and across the country on varied topics from Trauma Informed Prosecution to Considerations in Alcohol and Drug Facilitated Sexual Assault Prosecution. Cordelia and her training partners were selected to present at the 2023 and 2019 End Violence Against Women International Conference in San Diego and at the International Association of Forensic Nurses Conference in 2020-2022. In addition, Cordelia lectured nationally on Trauma Informed Prosecution including at the NDAA Summer Summit in 2021. Cordelia has developed an Illinois Training and Standards Board-approved curriculum for training on Firearms Restraining Orders and has conducted numerous trainings for police and prosecutors across the state. Cordelia has helped to develop approved informational materials for law enforcement and constituents on how to obtain Firearms Restraining Orders in Illinois. Cordelia has helped to develop a series of Targeted Violence trainings hosted by the Illinois Attorney General’s Office in partnership with the US Secret Service, the National Threat Assessment Center, and the Department of Homeland Security including threats in schools, houses of worship, and public places. Cordelia is a committed prosecutor, having spent the majority of her 25-year career as a Cook County State’s Attorney assigned to the criminal division, with extensive experience in investigating, preparing, and trying violent crimes.
The Summit was more than empty words – it made clear that a solution-driven approach is the only way to fight hate. That’s why the working group activities, which are results driven are going to be critical in defeating violent extremism. The Summit brought together the best minds in government, private sector, academia, and civil society. Being surrounded by these experts sparked new ideas – some of which I’ve already implemented or have written about.
