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The task force recently met for the first time. The group discussed
several topics, including crime statistics and violence prevention.
One topic that led to some disagreement was that of sentencing.
Ben Ruddell of the ACLU said changes need to be made to address some
term lengths for different crimes.
"We need to stop admitting so many people into prison for low-level
offenses like drug possession, shoplifting, things like that,"
Ruddell said. "We also need to address long sentence length or
excessive sentence lengths."
Jim Kaitschuck of the Illinois Sheriffs' Association suggested
bringing back programs from the 1990s to deal with crime.
"I think there needs to be accountability in the end," Kaitschuck
said. "What you saw back in the nineties can be attributed, to some
extent, to some of those programs that were being done at the state
and national level."
Kaitschuck explained some of the programs he was referring to.
"In the nineties, there was a push for mandatory minimum sentencing,
also under President Clinton, you had a significant push to hire
more cops across the country," Kaitschuck told The Center Square.
Ruddell had a different approach than law enforcement in suggesting
overpopulating jails is not a way to stop crime.
"When we look to invest in the upstream solutions that are going to
reduce and prevent crime in the long term, we need to look to be
more efficient in what we are doing now," Ruddell said. "That means
not overusing incarceration."
The group is tasked with submitting a detailed report on findings,
recommendations, and resources to address crime throughout the state
by next March.
Andrew Hensel has years of experience as a
reporter and pre-game host for the Joliet Slammers, and as a
producer for the Windy City Bulls. A graduate of Iowa Wesleyan
University and Illinois Media School, Andrew lives in the south
suburbs of Chicago.
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