Supporters, including Chance the Rapper and Common, held a news conference Wednesday. The trailer bill applies entirely to policing. Jones said its important to see incarcerated people beyond their confinement as lawyers, professors, doctors, therapists and people who have the potential to do great things. Parole Illinois is among those who say thats an additional punishment. However, if the person, on the advice of counsel chooses not to make a statement, the court shall not consider a lack of an expression of remorse as an aggravating factor. As an example, if eight members attend a hearing and seven vote in favor of parole, but one votes against, parole will be denied. Chance the Rapper and Common, along with Parole Illinois, are pushing a Senate bill that would restore discretionary parole in the state. The lead sponsors are Sens. If you are interested in our family group, please email our Outreach Director, Julie Anderson, at janderson@restorejustice.org. Those serving life sentences became eligible after 20 years. We need a criminal justice system that reflects the values we want to see in this world.. There also will be a focus on creating educational and economic opportunities in areas with high crime and incarceration rates. Illinois, what are we doing? Common said. This did not pass through either chamber. Save certificates and documentation that indicate your participation in any type of programming while incarcerated (e.g., educational courses, mental health and/or substance abuse treatment groups, religious activities, or groups). He was put on quarantine for 14 days. When he was in St. Clair County they were in an over populated cell with inmates sleeping on floor. This is just step one, Mr. Schiraldi said. Illinois became the 47th when Pritzker signed the law over the summer. We wish there was an immediate way to bring more people home sooner! Therefore, even if your case does not currently meet eligibility criteria for review, you can still do the following in preparation for when criteria change. Illinois has also changed criminal sentencing, prison policy, and police reforms under the SAFE-T act. Please note this is not an application for resentencing, as the resentencing law is not effective until January 1, 2022, and the CCSAO is not actively reviewing requests for resentencing. Still, Brian Benjamin, who is now the lieutenant governor to Ms. Hochul, was the bills main sponsor in the State Senate, and Ms. Hochul praised its conception during her signing and signaled a desire to create change in the system. The law also adds the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System to the list of laws that agencies can work with when trying to locate a missing person. It would require the Prisoner Review Board to conduct a hearing with at least three members to determine whether or not a minor should be put on MSR or transferred to the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) when the minor turns 21. It would build on 2019s Youthful Parole Law, which created the first new parole opportunities in Illinois since the state abolished discretionary parole in 1978. Recently last week my grandson tested positive for Covid. Provides that a person serving a term of natural life imprisonment is eligible for parole or mandatory supervised release. Once the Governor receives a bill, he can sign it into law, do nothing, or veto it. Tipped employees may be paid 60% of the hourly minimum wage. In order to prevent osteoporosis and other medical conditions, this law requires health insurance plans to cover medically necessary hormone therapy treatments for women who have undergone a hysterectomy and therefore induced menopause. HB1064, House Floor Amendment 1 (previously HB1821): This bill would bring Illinois into line with the majority of states. Nearly 300 new laws are set to take effect on January 1, 2022, covering a range of issues big. Gov. Andre Vasquez and an advocacy group want him fired. He was released on parole in November 2021. The Juvenile Justice Initiative led this initiative. Julie can also make sure your husband receives our newsletter with court and legislative updates. But his lawyer said the state corrections department would not offer one. Illinois' minimum wage will increase by $1 on New Year's Day, Illinois bill banning hair discrimination in schools inspired by 4-year-old boy, Chicago mother wins fight to ban hair discrimination in Illinois schools. This initiative was led by the Cook County States Attorneys office. Because it never truly talked about reform.. JB Pritzker signed the bill into law in August, at a ceremony attended by Nelson and Hawkins. I believe in redemption; I believe in rehabilitation; I believe in Saul on the road to Damascus, Currie said. Persons who have served at least 10 years of a sentence for a drug-related offense. Many of the people named in the court filing on Wednesday were on parole when they were rearrested for misdemeanors. Here's a look at some of the most interesting laws set to go into effect. Q: Can I request that my case be reviewed for resentencing? Identify and cultivate relationships with people in your family and/or community who could provide positive support and stability to you after incarceration. Contact email: saoresentencinginitiative@cookcountyil.gov. This bill did not move in either chamber. The rapper said though hes known many people impacted by the criminal justice system, going to the prison in Crest Hill, Illinois, and seeing it in person profoundly affected him. HB 2989 would apply that framework to people ages 18 to 20. The reported issues come after the measure received broad support in the fall, including from some sheriffs and police officials across the state. The most recent law extends parole review to young people sentenced to natural life in prison; this ensures no children 17 and younger can receive a life without . Once the CCSAO begins accepting requests and if your request fits the current criteria for consideration, the office will contact the person making the request regarding submitting additional information. SB1976 would give families someone to call who can investigate complaints and attempt to resolve issues. History lessons next year will add some new curriculum to teach students about the contributions of Asian-Americans. The rappers spoke at a news conference outside the Cook County Jail on Wednesday to urge state lawmakers to pass the bill. Please ask a relative to get in touch with us at the above email address. Right now (before this bill becomes law), family members visiting incarcerated loved ones have little to no redress when they are denied access or treated unfairly. Illinois lawmakers got rid of discretionary parole at the beginning of the tough-on-crime era, Katrina Burlet, campaign director and operations manager of Parole Illinois, said. Those charges alone would not have been serious enough to detain them at Rikers. Ms. Connors, the corrections department spokeswoman, said officials were under the impression public defenders would work with the city corrections department to separately coordinate transportation from hearings. While typically this might include hundreds of new measures, as it did at the beginning of 2020, this year was markedly different. 6226. As of mid-June, legislators concluded business for this year's regular session. Persons who have served at least 10 years for a theft/robbery/burglary offense. Locked up since the beginning of covid and it is still uncontrollable. He is incarcerated in Robinson Correctional Facility. I have written and called everyone in Springfield. "A poem aint got nothing but one thing to do in life thats to be heard," Avery R. Young said. While Senate Bill 687 was scheduled to take effect in the new year, it no longer will - but it's still worth mentioning because it's an issue that will surely continue to come up in 2021. It went up again in July to $10 an hour, with the minimum wage for tipped workers and employees under 18 (only those working part-time) increasing proportionally as well. Supporters said the new law acknowledges research showing young peoples brains are not fully developed and that they lack the decision-making abilities of adults. Gov. Public Act 102-1128 builds on the 2019 Youthful Parole Law, which created the first new parole opportunities in Illinois since our state abolished parole in 1978. A lot of promises were being made, so now where you at? Two years of living through a pandemic has thrown into sharp relief how important it is to protect one's mental health. Students endure intense stress from tests, homework and extracurricular activities throughout the school year, often compounded by things they're going through at home. If someone needs to be kept in a cell for more than 20 hours a day, that can only last 10 days out of any 180-day period. HB803: This would require the Prisoner Review Board (PRB) to make decisions based on the vote of a majority of members present at a hearing, rather than a majority of total members. The new law, known as the Less is More Act, ended the practice of automatic jailing for some minor violations, like breaking curfew or missing an appointment with a parole officer. Lucian Chalfen, a courts spokesman, said that five courtrooms in Brooklyn and Manhattan have been identified to accommodate the new hearings. Are you asking about the Resentencing Task Force? Block Club Chicago is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to delivering reliable, nonpartisan and essential coverage of Chicagos diverse neighborhoods. Illinois ended discretionary parole in 1978. Frequently Asked Questions about the (CCSAO) Resentencing Initiative. This law allows women who have a miscarriage, still birth, or other diagnosis or event that impacts pregnancy or fertility to take 10 days of unpaid leave. Sixteen people died in custody in New York City in 2021, the deadliest year since 2013. . So this movement was really born from that and because it is people in prison who are the mind behind all of this, and the energy and the heart behind all this.. The law is not a get-out-of-jail-free card, said Barbara Flynn Currie, the former Illinois House majority leader who sponsored the bill. SB64: This legislation removes barriers to restorative justice practices by establishing a privilege for communications made during restorative justice proceedings. . Pritzker signed the legislation in Springfield three days before this year's Juneteenth celebration, surrounded by members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. This bill passed out of the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee, but it did not pass through either chamber. Now Illinois lawmakers have an opportunity to pass a parole reform bill that is the result of the Stateville debate team's years of work.