Jim and his wife Darla have long been active in the fight to protect abused and neglected children. Through his experience as an attorney and a judge, Jim saw firsthand the struggles of children suffering from abuse and neglect. As a judge in Jefferson County, he helped create a special juvenile docket for child abuse cases.

Jim served for eight years on the Board of Directors of Prevent Child Abuse – Illinois, the Illinois Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse – America. He also served three years as president.

Jim was the founder of the Southern Thirty Adolescent Center that provides emergency shelter for abused and neglected children in the 30 southernmost counties of our state.

He has been a frequent speaker on children’s issues and has served on numerous special child advocacy and juvenile justice committees for the Illinois General Asssembly, and he has been appointed by two different governors to help redraft the juvenile code.

In 2004, Jim was named “Child Advocate of the Year” by the Downstate Multidisciplinary Conference on Child Abuse for his lifetime record of service to abused and neglected children.