All Rights Reserved. As lawmakers consider that proposal, here's a look at what's changing in 2021: The minimum wage in Illinois is going up again in the new year. SB2129: This bill says upon the recommendation of the Illinois States Attorney of the county in which the defendant was sentenced, the States Attorney can petition the court for resentencing. 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. Voters passed the workers' rights amendment in the 2022 election; what does that mean for Illinois? with the winter in our midst. they are only given Water so many days a week and this affects underlining illness, The State is COMMITTING MURDER WITH THESE CONDITIONS THAT INDIVIDUAL ARE FORCED TO LIVE UNDER. The measure enables people to list the Illinois attorney general's office as their contact address in some circumstances through the address confidentiality program already established for domestic violence survivors. Chance The Rapper And Common Push For Parole In Illinois: It 'Will Restore Justice Illinois | 2021 Illinois Legislative Update appeals, post-conviction petitions, federal habeas petitions, clemency petitions). It defines a terminal illness as a condition that is likely to cause death in 18 months. J.B. Pritzker signed into law Monday. According to the rapper, the man, whos serving a life sentence, said he wanted to change his life, apologize to his community and see it healed from its struggles. Sixteen people died in custody in New York City in 2021, the deadliest year since 2013. . House Bill 2818 allows survivors of sexual assault and stalking to keep their home addresses confidential to reduce the risk that their attacker may locate them. The new law also requires that parole hearings take place in borough courtrooms, instead of correctional facilities, a change the bills writers say is aimed at increasing public transparency, allowing a detainee to appear before a judge outside of confinement and be joined by their loved ones. The measure makes Illinois the second state in the U.S. to limit prescription insulin co-pays. Right now, 25 states prohibit life without parole sentences for people younger than 18. Chance the Rapper recalled performing at Stateville Correctional Center in 2019 to celebrate seven inmates whod earned their bachelors degrees. Celina Villanueva, Robert Peters and Jacqueline Y. Collins. As of mid-June, legislators concluded business for this years regular session. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune). Under this measure, the Illinois State Police could remove guns from people with revoked FOID cards, including from those who are deemed to be a threat to themselves or the public, and it would create new incentives to get FOID applicants to voluntarily submit fingerprints. Ive met some of the most enlightened and inspiring people in prison. Q: Can my case be considered for resentencing even if it does not meet the criteria listed above? Q: Will victims be notified if a case is being considered for resentencing? Driving out through endless cornfields to a walled-off compound isolated from the rest of society, walking into an auditorium to be greeted by armed guards and then to sit and see the rows of men I was there to perform for shackled hands and feet, draped all in blue, Chance said, and then to know that after this performance, and after the ceremony, each man would be forced back into his tiny, dilapidated cell for the remainder of that day and for days on end we need to understand incarceration for what it is: torture. Right now, children 9 and younger cannot be detained, and HB3767 would raise that to 12 by 2023. We need to figure out a way to capture some of the savings made from this and plow them into housing, employment, education so that folks succeed and it reduces crime., New Law Overhauling N.Y.s Parole System Is Being Ignored, Lawyers Say, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/02/nyregion/parole-lawsuit-legal-aid.html. In an effort to support local manufacturers, this Illinois State House bill requires state agencies and institutions to only purchase Illinois and American flags made in the United States. After past attempts at parole reform bills, groups such as Parole Illinois are hoping SB 2333, drafted with the help of Illinois inmates, passes. This bill passed out of the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee, but it did not pass through either chamber. even though the thermal underwear is seconds and only lasts one winter before tearing. This would change that to children 13 and older.) The market will run 8 a.m.-2p.m. Once the Governor receives a bill, he can sign it into law, do nothing, or veto it. The measure marks the first time the state will be allowed to grant discretionary parole since the practice was abolished in 1978. The Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council (SPAC) will support the task force, and the Task Force will submit recommendations to the General Assembly and Governors Office by July 1, 2022. HB3665: The Joe Coleman Medical Release Act would allow the Prison Review Board to grant early release for people determined by medical professionals to be medically incapacitated (requiring around-the-clock care to survive) or terminally ill. LITTLE VILLAGE Chance the Rapper and Common are advocating for changes to Illinois parole laws. 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. Illinois now uses whats known as mandatory supervised release, a time period of supervision after a person has been released. 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. A: No. Gov. HB2989 House Floor Amendment 2,3,4: This would expand the Youth Firearm Sentencing Law to those 20 and under at the time of the crime. "In order to combat things like the rise in anti-Asian racism and discrimination that we've seen, we need to teach our young people our students the full version of American history, we need to make sure that all students see themselves reflected in the curriculum they're learning," said Grace Pai, executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice. The filing comes after the governor signed the new law in September, as disorder and brutal conditions at Rikers Island gained heightened attention. To commemorate the abolition of slavery throughout the United States and its territories in 1865, Juneteenth will be recognized as National Freedom Day in Illinois. New laws 2022: Illinois laws that take effect January 1 - ABC7 Chicago It also will prevent the legislature from enacting a so-called right-to-work law, should it undergo a shift to the right, that would allow workers covered by union contracts to not pay dues. We also host Advocacy Trainings, which help loved ones learn to advance change in Springfield. Tipped employees may be paid 60% of the hourly minimum wage. Rachel Connors, a spokeswoman for the department, said in a statement that corrections officials did not believe state law required the hearings to be held for people detained before the parole changes went into effect. HB1064 would create an opportunity for people younger than 21 when convicted of first-degree murder or sentenced to a term of natural life imprisonment to be eligible for parole review; people with these specific convictions or sentences did not receive parole consideration under the Youthful Parole Law. Were taking an important step here today, but we all know that real work remains to bring about reform that this state truly deserves, said Pritzker, who campaigned on reforming the states criminal justice system. Her group has been pushing the bill and organized the news conference. He said Its people like me that are dealing with mental sickness and dealing with mental pain, that can change and transform, Common said. While your case may not currently fall into the criteria outlined above, the CCSAO will expand its criteria in the future. He said that if the bill passes, it will show incarcerated people that they do deserve a second chance. 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. 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 . This alone will cause an inmate psychosis. The Impact Of Prison With No Possibility Of Parole Common and Chance the Rapper spoke at the news conference about meeting Chicago inmates and the impact it had on them. Juneteenth, the holiday that celebrates the end of slavery in the United States, is officially an Illinois state holiday. Editors note: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect effective date of the new law. Expanding on the anti-discrimination law that went into effect in 2021 and applies to schools, this law changes the Illinois Human Rights Act to include traits associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles like braids, locks and twists to combat hair discrimination in the workplace. PO Box 6160 A: No, you do not need a lawyer for your case to be considered for resentencing. More than 180 new laws are set to take effect on January 1, 2023, covering a range of issues big and small that affect Illinoisans. Please leave us a message and we will respond as soon as possible. J.B. Pritzker]. It really struck me because I knew this brother, and I knew what he used to be. 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.. We agree about the need for a more proactive approach. The amendment passed with more than 50% support from the overall vote in the midterm. This could include an increase in the flat income tax for all residents across the board, which multiple officials have warned is possible, as well as budget reductions, beginning with $700 million in cuts to state services, grants, hiring and more for fiscal year 2021 the governor announced in December. Are you asking about the Resentencing Task Force? During the first three years of implementation, people older than 50 would have been prioritized for parole. Senate Bill 3349 (SB3349) reduces the required Mandatory Supervised Release (MSR) period for Class X felonies, excluding some sex offenses, from 3 years to 18 months and reduces the MSR period for Class 1 and Class 2 felonies from 2 years to 12 months.1 SB3349 also provides that MSR shall not be imposed on individuals leaving prison for Class 3 The most recent law extends parole review to young people sentenced to natural life in prison; this ensures no children 17 . Paying more despite good credit? what happens to this privation that the facilities are owned by. This law ensures people whose cars have been stolen will not be liable for violations, fees, fines or penalties when their vehicles are caught on red light or speed cameras. Safe-T act or (Safety, Accountability, Fairness and Equity-Today Act) This statute passed the Illinois legislature in 2021 and will go into effect on January 1, 2023. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left;width:100%;font-weight:normal;}, Beyond Chicago from the Air with Geoffrey Baer, Inside Pontiac Prison Where Mental Health Issues, Violence, Officer Shortages and Aging Facilities Are Leading to Calls for Reform, Former IDOC Director on Plans for Pontiac Prison, Home to States Highest Concentration of Seriously Mentally Ill Incarcerated People, Nearly 70 Years of Housing, Healing and Hope for Reentering Citizens at St. Leonards Ministries, Appellate Court Grants Man Convicted of Killing Hadiya Pendleton New Trial, Illinois Supreme Court Hears Arguments Over Eliminating Cash Bail, R. Kelly Files Appeal After Federal Child Pornography, Enticement Convictions in Chicago, Former Chicago Police Chief of Detectives, Fired Reform Boss Join Johnsons Transition Team, Suspected Chicago Gang Members Facing Federal Drug, Firearms and Fraud Charges, Hammond Kids Have to Crawl Under Freight Trains to Get to School: ProPublica. Additionally, he revised instructions for completing the risk assessment . Q: How do I contact the CCSAO with resentencing questions under this law? Persons who have served at least 10 years of a sentence for a drug-related offense. The rappers spoke at a news conference outside the Cook County Jail on Wednesday to urge state lawmakers to pass the bill. Students now can choose whether they want to submit a standardized test score when applying to public institutions in the state. Individuals serving a term of natural life would not be eligible for sentencing credit. HB3443, Senate Committee Amendments 4 and 5: It is a trailer bill to the Safe-T Act, which passed in January 2021. Your advice was quite helpful. The new law gives all of these criminals a 48-hour pass and means they will have the legal freedom to perhaps murder the witnesses of their crime, and the police cannot respond to their ankle. "Poetry is that thing that makes you wake up to write the poem.. But as parole violations, they would result in automatic incarceration under the old rules. When he was in St. Clair County they were in an over populated cell with inmates sleeping on floor. Persons who have served at least 10 years for a theft/robbery/burglary offense. Third, let your family and loved ones know: Based on our legislative effort, IDOC has hired a family Point of Contact. Natalie Mason has joined the Office of Constituent Services as the Departments Family Liaison. Additionally, at this time, the CCSAO is not considering individual requests for resentencing, as the office is prioritizing the review of cases from its internal identification process based on the criteria listed above. The SAFE-T Act also requires that all Illinois police officers wear body cameras by 2025, establishes a more defined system for police complaints, and requires more law enforcement training. JB Pritzker signed the bill into law in August, at a ceremony attended by Nelson and Hawkins. The Youth Firearm Sentencing Law gave judges the authority to decide whether enhancements make sense on a case-by-case basis for people 17 and younger. We have also included a Guide for Navigating Sentencing Credit in Illinois created by the Illinois Prison Project. This initiative is led by the ACLU of Illinois. This bill will prevent anything said or done during or in preparation for a restorative justice practice from being referred to, used, or admitted in any civil, criminal, juvenile, or administrative proceeding, unless privilege is waived. New Rule Makes Thousands of Federal Inmates Eligible for Release Inmates in Statesville corrections are like the other inmates in other prisons are facing SHORTAGES. The reported issues come after the measure received broad support in the fall, including from some sheriffs and police officials across the state. 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. But a bill in Springfield ( SB2333) is working to bring it back, providing parole hearings for inmates who've served at least 20 years in prison with. Two years of living through a pandemic has thrown into sharp relief how important it is to protect one's mental health. To contact Natalie with questions or concerns, email Natalie.Mason@illinois.gov or call 217-558-2200 ext. Illinois SAFE-T Act 2023: Pritzker signs revised version of controversial bill about cash bail, the portion of the SAFE-T Act that ends cash bail in Illinois is unconstitutional. It's a way to learn responsibility, entrepreneurship, and strengthen bonds with the community. Right now, New York sends more people back to prison for violations. However, those workers must still earn the minimum wage after receiving tips, or the employer will make up the difference. Under this measure, people with drug convictions could seek assistance through TANF.