Left to right: Dora Larson, executive director of the Support for Homicide Survivors group; state Sen. Mike Jacobs, D-East Moline; James Simmons, of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police; and state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington.

Sen. Brady: Victims' advocate needed on Prisoner Review Board [February 09, 2011]  SPRINGFIELD -- An organization created to fight for homicide survivors is enlisting the support of state Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington.

The newly formed Support for Homicide Survivors group will work to raise public and legislative support for homicide survivors, including support at parole and clemency hearings, and legislative changes for victims and their rights, according to Dora Larson, executive director of the group.

At a news conference Tuesday in the state Capitol, Brady said he supports new legislation to place a victims' advocate on the state's Prisoner Review Board.

"It's a first step that needs to be taken, particularly over the last couple years as we have seen people released from prison and put back into society without the knowledge of the victims or the survivors," Brady said. "I applaud the efforts of this organization for doing that."

The Support for Homicide Survivors group also recognized James Simmons with the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police for his work on behalf of crime victims.

"This is a very humbling experience for me; however, this is not about me," Simmons said. "Let me give you some numbers that I was going over in my head, and actually verified before I came here today. For the past five years, Illinois has averaged over 750 homicides. For the past five years, Illinois has averaged over 4,000 rapes. For the past five years, Illinois has averaged over 64,000 violent offenses."

More information about the Support for Homicide Survivors group is available at http://supportforhomicidesurvivors.com/.

[Text from file sent on behalf of Sen. Bill Brady by Illinois Senate Republican staff]