With a national, bipartisan belief in the need for criminal justice reform, Illinois lawmakers have an opportunity to enact long-overdue improvements. Governor JB Pritzker and legislative leaders have proven their commitment to making Illinois a more fair and just state in several important areas. But,...
Honorable Chairman Slaughter, Chairman Peters, Chairman Sims, Lt. Governor Stratton, and Committee Members: Thank you for scheduling this hearing and for allowing me the opportunity to share my personal experience with Illinois’ sentencing laws and to explain why serious changes are necessary. I grew up in East...
Assistant Majority Leader Harmon’s Commitment to Justice, Compassion Make Illinois a Better State [ngg src="galleries" ids="3" display="basic_slideshow"] Tone Stockenstrom Photography Inc photos CHICAGO—On Thursday, Dec. 12, Restore Justice proudly honored Illinois State Senator Don Harmon with the first Abner Mikva Legislative Courage Award. Assistant Majority Leader Harmon sponsored...
by Restore Justice, in partnership with John Howard Association Changes to Illinois' Truth in Sentencing law become effective on January 1, 2020. Here is what you need to know. Disclaimer: Restore Justice was not a part of the legislative effort that resulted in the passage of HB0094,...
Bill Would Give Families Visiting Incarcerated Loved Ones a Statewide Point of Contact We applaud Senator Laura Fine for introducing SB 2311. This measure would establish a statewide contact within the Illinois Department of Corrections for family members and other visitors of inmates. Currently, those with...
Contacts: Marshan Allen, (708) 483-7737; Chairman Justin Slaughter, (217) 782-0010 Illinois’ Felony-Murder Rule Harms Individuals, Families, & Communities SPRINGFIELD-The Judiciary - Criminal Law Committee chaired by Representative Justin Slaughter is holding a subject matter hearing on Wednesday, November 13 at 9 a.m. in D-1 of the Stratton...
We remain grateful State’s Attorney Nerheim dropped felony-murder charges against the five young people involved in this Lake County case. With that said, we must strike down the provisions of Illinois law that allowed for these charges in the first place. Our state’s overly broad felony-murder...
[ngg src="galleries" display="basic_slideshow"] Tone Stockenstrom Photography “To think, they actually tried to throw us away…” Eleven men who were each incarcerated for between 13 and 35 years for youthful convictions came together on Saturday, September 28 to help change the equation for so-called “violent offenders.” Our first apprentice,...
Restore Justice thanks Lake County State’s Attorney Nerheim for engaging with community members, hearing a variety of viewpoints, and ultimately dropping felony-murder charges against Curtis Dawson, Kendrick Cooper, and Diamond, Steven, and Stacy Davis. The teens have been held for a month, charged with the...
Right-size sentencing laws relating to violent crimes in Illinois. “FELONY-MURDER RULE” REFORM Illinois has one of the broadest felony-murder statutes in the country. A person can be charged and convicted of first-degree murder—a conviction that carries a minimum sentence of twenty years and, under certain circumstances, a...