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The Illinois General Assembly passed an expansive criminal justice bill on the last day of the lame-duck session, which, among other changes, would end the use of cash bail and impose new certification requirements for police officers. The measure was a part of a slate of bills spearheaded by the Legislative Black Caucus.
Gov. JB Pritzker released a statement Wednesday afternoon, praising the Black Caucus’ efforts and indicating his support for the bill, which now awaits his signature.
“This criminal justice package carries with it the opportunity to shape our state into a lesson in true justice for the nation,” Pritzker said in a written statement. “By abolishing cash bail, modernizing sentencing laws, instituting a certification and decertification system for police officers statewide, requiring body cameras, reforming crowd control response, and amplifying law enforcement training standards.”
Illinois lawmakers pass Criminal Justice Reform Bill
Criminal Justice Reform Bill heads to Gov. Pritzker s desk By Colin Baillie | January 13, 2021 at 5:35 PM CST - Updated January 14 at 11:12 AM
CARTERVILLE, IL. (KFVS) - During a Lame Duck Session, Illinois lawmakers in the House and Senate passed House Bill 3653 on Wednesday, January 13.
The Illinois Criminal Justice Reform Bill was authored by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus to rid Illinois of what it calls systemic racism.
Elgie Sims, a Democrat Senator from Chicagoâs southside, is among the 60 senators who voted in favor of the bill.
âI am gratified that the Senate has passed this major reform package, and I believe it is the first step to transforming criminal justice in Illinois in a way that will uplift our communities and support our law enforcement professionals,â said Sims.
Originally House Bill 163 and now House Bill 3653, the law was written by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, and includes among other things ending cash bail for non-violent offenders state-wide, requiring all police officers in the state to wear body cameras, expanding use of force guidelines and training for police, prohibiting chokeholds, and requires the maintenance of misconduct records and the use of special prosecutors in officer-involved deaths.
The new bill was amended with proposals from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul: including creating uniformity for officers and departments across the state, creating an easier and more uniform system of police certification and de-certification, and giving the Illinois Attorney General s Office authority under state law to investigate and resolve patterns or practices of unconstitutional policing.
The Illinois Senate passed a criminal justice omnibus bill early Wednesday morning after a grueling 20 hours of politicking. The House followed suit Wednesday morning, clearing the way for the bill to head to the governor.