State of Illinois Archives: on Crime

Mark Curran: Black Lives Matter addresses police racist conduct

Q: Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States?

A: Does racism still exist in America? Of course it does, as it does in every nation. Have we made enormous strides-particularly in the last fifty years? Absolutely, we have. I have spent many years in law enforcement. I have encountered instances of racism-and in many of those cases it was directed towards Latinos to a degree the media does not report in favor of a continued focus on the Black Lives Matter movement. Those cases--and all other cases--of racist conduct on the part of law enforcement are not acceptable and should be stopped. However, I do NOT believe that there is a common thread of systemic racism running through American law enforcement or the military. Racial strife and division-as it is being encouraged by leftist politicians and organizations-is what poses a threat to our domestic peace and security. That is abundantly clear as we watch chaos unfold in our cities.

Source: AFA iVoterGuide on 2020 Illinois Senate race Nov 3, 2020

J.B. Pritzker: Criminal justice reform starts with phasing out cash bail

This spring, working with legislators, we will begin the long path toward a fairer criminal justice system. That starts with phasing out cash bail and following many of the recommendations made by the bipartisan criminal justice reform commission created by my predecessor, most of whose ideas were never adopted because of the rancor and dysfunction. Source: 2020 Illinois State of the State address Jan 29, 2020

J.B. Pritzker: Prohibit the use of for-profit prisons

Legislative Summary: HB2040: The For-Profit Corrections Prohibition Act. Provides that the State, any unit of local government, or a county sheriff, shall not contract with a private contractor or private vendor for the provision of services relating to community correctional supervision.

Analysis by Capitol News Illinois: The caucus supports a bill that would prohibit any unit of government from contracting with private entities to operate correctional facilities. Rep. Carol Ammons said this measure would open the door for the installation of private immigration detention centers in Illinois, such as one proposed by the Livingston County village of Dwight.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 85-26-6 on Apr/10/19; Passed Senate 34-14-11 on May/16/19; Signed by Governor J. B. Pritzker on Jun/21/19

Source: Capitol News Illinois on Illinois voting record HB2040 Jun 21, 2019

Anne Stava-Murray: Prohibit the use of for-profit prisons

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 85-26-6 on Apr/10/19; Anne Stava-Murray co-sponsored the bill and voted YES; Passed Senate 34-14-11 on May/16/19; Signed by Governor J. B. Pritzker on Jun/21/19

Source: Capitol News Illinois on Illinois voting record HB2040 Apr 10, 2019

Darren Bailey: Allow the use of for-profit prisons

Legislative Summary:ÿHB2040: The For-Profit Corrections Prohibition Act. Provides that the State, any unit of local government, or a county sheriff, shall not contract with a private contractor or private vendor for the provision of services relating to community correctional supervision.

Analysis by Capitol News Illinois:ÿThe caucus supports a bill that would prohibit any unit of government from contracting with private entities to operate correctional facilities. Rep. Carol Ammons said this measure would open the door for the installation of private immigration detention centers in Illinois, such as one proposed by the Livingston County village of Dwight.

Legislative Outcome:ÿPassed House 85-26-6 on Apr/10/19; State Rep. Darren Bailey voted NO; Passed Senate 34-14-11 on May/16/19; Signed by Governor J. B. Pritzker on Jun/21/19

Source: Capitol News Illinois on Illinois voting record HB2040 Apr 10, 2019

Daniel Biss: Rehabilitation rather than punishment

When criminal offenders do not receive rehabilitation and are discriminated against after reentering society, they sometimes return to lives of crime. Recidivism occurs at an immense cost to taxpayers, which is why Daniel advocates for long-term solutions to crime reduction rather than unproductively harsh punishment. Job training provides offenders, many of whom come from marginalized communities, with a lawful way to support themselves after they reenter society. Source: 2018 Illinois Gubernatorial website DanielBiss.com Sep 1, 2017

J.B. Pritzker: Against death penalty; rectify wrongful convictions

My wife and I helped support the Center on Wrongful Convictions, which has become the national leader in rectifying wrongful convictions and did much of the work behind Illinois's moratorium on capital punishment.

[The Center on Wrongful Convictions is based at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, so named after School of Law alumnus J.B. Pritzker and his wife, M.K. Pritzker, made a $100 million gift.]

Source: 2018 Illinois gubernatorial campaign website JBPritzker.com Jul 17, 2017

J.B. Pritzker: Erase juvenile criminal records for adults

[Said Pritzker of juvenile criminal records,] "Even if you live a life that's free of any interaction with the law, you still have this mark sitting on your records--it can prevent you from getting employment, an apartment. It shouldn't be that way. You shouldn't have to hire a lawyer to get it off your record when you made a mistake at 15, 16 or 17 years old or younger. It should automatically be taken it off." Source: The Chicago Defender on 2018 Illinois gubernatorial race Apr 27, 2017

Bruce Rauner: Close outdated prisons; focus on reducing recidivism

It is a social justice issue to ensure that we provide a means for those in our criminal justice system to rehabilitate and return to productive lives. Over the past two years our Administration has worked to reform our criminal justice system, reduce recidivism and address underlying behavioral and mental health issues for those in our systems of care, in order to keep our communities safer.

We're making great strides in implementing initial recommendations from our Commission on Criminal Justice Reform--helping non-violent ex-offenders get back on their feet and giving them meaningful skills to find employment. We've shuttered the outdated Roundhouse at Stateville Prison while repurposing two other facilities in Murphysboro and Kewanee as life skill centers to help non-violent offenders return to the work force more effectively.

Source: 2017 State of the State address to Illinois Legislature Jan 25, 2017

Bruce Rauner: Police trooper surge to counter Chicago violence

Sadly, our progress in reducing non-violent crime is overshadowed by the skyrocketing rate of violent crime in Chicago. The violence occurring in Chicago every night is intolerable; we've got to bring it to an end. Violence experts say there's no single cause and no single solution. But with the right mix of policies, we can and must find solutions to curb the violence.

At the Illinois State Police, we're providing the Chicago Police Department with a wide range of resources--and we stand ready to do more wherever and whenever called upon. Our troopers have already surged to counter the violence that's spilled over to our expressways--and we're committed to hiring more State Police officers to help patrol Chicago expressways, and other high violence areas.

Law enforcement plays a critical role in violence reduction--but in the end, it's a treatment, not a cure. Addressing the roots of this plague will take much more: to restore hope where hope has been lost.

Source: 2017 State of the State address to Illinois Legislature Jan 25, 2017

Daniel Biss: Seal criminal records upon earning a GED, AA, or BA

Senator Biss voted YEA on legislation HB3149: Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Allows a person who earned a high school diploma, associate's degree, career certificate, vocational technical certification, or bachelor's degree, or passed the high school level Test of General Educational Development, during the period of his or her sentence, aftercare release, or mandatory supervised release, to petition for sealing before expiration of applicable waiting periods under the sealing law. The person cannot have completed the same educational goal previously. If the person's petition for sealing is denied, then the applicable waiting period under the sealing law shall apply to any subsequent petition for sealing by the person. Source: VoteSmart synopsis of 2015-2016 Illinois voting record Aug 17, 2015

Napoleon Harris: Seal criminal records upon earning a GED, AA, or BA

Senator Harris co-sponsored legislation HB3149: Amends the Criminal Identification Act. Allows a person who earned a high school diploma, associate's degree, career certificate, vocational technical certification, or bachelor's degree, or passed the high school level Test of General Educational Development, during the period of his or her sentence, aftercare release, or mandatory supervised release, to petition for sealing before expiration of applicable waiting periods under the sealing law. The person cannot have completed the same educational goal previously. If the person's petition for sealing is denied, then the applicable waiting period under the sealing law shall apply to any subsequent petition for sealing by the person. Source: VoteSmart synopsis of 2015-2016 Illinois voting record Aug 17, 2015

Mark Kirk: Deportation to fight rising street gang population

With a rising street gang population, Congressman Kirk supports giving law enforcement the tools they need to deport illegal residents with gang ties and proposed the Alien Gang Removal Act. The Government Accountability Office has statistics indicating that illegal aliens in prisons have been arrested an average of eight times each. These national statistics on repeat offenders are staggering, and these gangs are backed by weapons and resources that can easily overwhelm suburban law enforcement.

Locally, the legislation would combine with efforts already being taken in Lake County to deport illegals in the criminal system. While most gang members are American citizens, we are seeing the rise of transnational drug gangs that are bringing new levels of violence and criminal activity to our communities. [Source: kirk.house.gov/index.php ]

Source: Vote-IL.org profile for 2016 Illinois Senate race Nov 22, 2010

Pat Quinn: Alternative sentencing for low-level non-violent offenders

In Illinois, for the last 30 years, we have gone from 18,000 inmates in the prison to 46,000. We have to deal with this issue in our state, like other big states. We want to make sure our prisons incarcerate hardened criminals, at all times. We have to do that. At the same time, our society has to ask itself, "Is the best way to punish a low-level, non-violent offender--someone who has committed a crime and has to serve some kind of punishment--is it the best way to have them go to a state prison, with its cost?" I think it's important in our state that we examine this issue.

We are going to take a look at a Sentence Advisory Council. We want to make sure our prisons are always incarcerating hardened criminals; at the same time we want to take a look at how we deal with these low-level non-violent offenders who still must be punished. There may be other ways; there are other ways to do it, and I think that's something we need to embark on this year.

Source: Illinois 2010 State of the State Address Jan 13, 2010

Pat Quinn: Sold unused state prison to federal prison agency

I was contacted by our President and his administration to inspect a nearly vacant prison that we haven't been able to afford to open, Thomson prison. There were then some that when we even opened the door for inspection, criticized that decision. As Governor, I allowed those federal prison officials to come to Illinois to inspect the prison. When they came through here they found that it was an ideal prison for a federal prison that they were anxious to buy. I agreed to sell, for a fair market value Source: Illinois 2010 State of the State Address Jan 13, 2010

Mark Kirk: Provide after-school basketball to reduce youth violence

When two North Chicago young people were senselessly murdered, Congressman Kirk reached out to community leaders who identified a lack of after school activities as a factor in growing youth violence. To help address that problem, Congressman Kirk contacted the Chicago Bulls organization to join forces and build a world-class basketball facility in North Chicago to serve nearly 4,000 community kids. During the recent ceremony officially opening the new basketball courts, Congressman Kirk told the crowd that the Bulls built this project so fast that they had an immediate impact on stopping the cycle of violence. [Source: Candidate Website ] Source: Vote-IL.org profile for 2016 Illinois Senate race Oct 4, 2008

Alan Keyes: Enforcement should target criminals, not social conditions

OBAMA: [to Keyes]: The fact is I’ve passed 150 pieces of legislation that toughened penalties for violent criminals, everything from sex offenders to domestic abusers to gang bangers. So there’s only one candidate who’s ever dealt with hardened criminals on this stage and that’s me. The other guy only talks about it and I think that’s something voters will be focused on in this election.

KEYES: When I was part of the effort to fight terrorists, I dealt with some of the most hardened criminals on the face of the earth. What I learned to understand, that Senator Obama seems to forget when dealing with domestic crime and foreign relations is that you must go after the people who cause the problem and you must get after them before than can do harm. You must deal with the individuals who pose a threat to the decency of our communities.