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 “We need to approach our criminal justice system with more
compassion,” said Governor Rauner. “I want those who did something
wrong to face punishment, but we must make sure that the punishment
fits the crime. We need to explore new avenues so that we’re
balancing punishment with rehabilitation and not needlessly tearing
families and lives apart.”
This is the latest step in the Rauner administration’s attempt to
reform the criminal justice system in Illinois. Within the first
month of the administration, Governor Rauner created the Illinois
State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform. Its job
was to create recommendations that would transform Illinois' justice
system to make it more responsive to the people it served, while
also cutting down on the unnecessary incarcerations and costs. These
bills, coupled with administrative changes, make reforms in the
criminal justice system that will help safely reduce the number of
prison admissions, the length of prison stays and reduce recidivism
by increasing the chances of successful re-entry.
 “Governor Rauner set out to make Illinois a more compassionate state
and he is making good on that initiative,” said Illinois Department
of Corrections Director John Baldwin. “Today's bills will help
ensure that we are giving young men and women a second chance at
life. Instead of focusing on the past, we are attempting to
rehabilitate people who have been incarcerated and create
opportunities for low level offenders to build a future.”
SB 3164 requires review of a pre-sentencing report, as well as an
explanation of why incarceration is appropriate for offenders with
no prior probation sentences or prison convictions prior to
sentencing. Last year, nearly 60 percent of new prison admissions
for Class 3 or 4 felonies had no prior convictions for violent
crimes. Sending low-level offenders with no prior probation or other
convictions inefficiently uses prison resources and potentially
makes low-level offenders more susceptible to reoffending. This
legislation was sponsored by Sen. Michael Connelly and Rep. Brian
Stewart and was a recommendation made by the Governor’s Commission
on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform.
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HB 6291 amends the Juvenile Court Act to change the minimum probation period for
a youth adjudicated delinquent. The purpose of the bill is to help bring
Illinois in line with other states and the latest research by reducing mandatory
minimum lengths of probation and treating low level offenses with treatment.
This ensures that youth struggling with addictions will have the opportunity to
go through the treatment process before being sent to prison.
HB 5017 allows a juvenile to immediately petition the court for expungement when
he or she is charged with an offense that is dismissed without a finding of
delinquency. Under current law, the statute only allows for a petition of
expungement when the youth has reached the age of 18. This bill will help youth
who were arrested but not charged get a fresh start and clear their names.
HB 6200 addresses per minute rates of phone calls for inmates. The bill reduces
the rate that the Illinois Department of Corrections and the Illinois Department
of Juvenile Justice can contract for telephone providers.
SB 3005 amends the Park District Code to provide that a park district shall not
knowingly employ a person who has been convicted of specified drug offenses
until seven years following the end of a sentence imposed including periods of
supervision or probation. The previous law stated that park districts could not
employ any person convicted of the specified drug offenses. It furthermore
scales pack prohibitions on employment for convictions of public indecency to
Class 4 felonies.
[Office of the Governor Bruce Rauner]
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