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...
July 17, 2019 Dear Friends, Here is the latest letter compiled by the Restore Justice team. We are grateful for your letters and have taken some time to attempt to answer your questions about legislation and other policy developments below. Please stay in touch! *** Legislative Updates We got a...
The criminal justice system in Illinois can often feel like a jigsaw puzzle, full of interlocking laws, policies, and eccentricities that can be overwhelming even to experienced advocates. Over the next few months, Restore Justice will publish a series of “Know More” posts. Each post...
We have added six new members to our board, bringing our total number of board members to 23. Barbara Flynn Currie Barbara retired from the Illinois General Assembly this year after representing the 25th District, which includes portions of the Chicago communities of Woodlawn, South...
Legislative Updates RETROACTIVE REFORM PASSES HOUSE COMMITTEE (FIRST OF SEVERAL HURDLES) HB2039 (Rep. Cassidy) TAKE ACTION Illinois criminal justice reforms usually only look forward and provide no relief to those already impacted by outdated laws. To impact the current prison population, Illinois must implement broad retroactivity reform as is...
Every idea aspiring to become a law in Illinois has to go through at least SIX and sometimes SEVEN hurdles: A legislator has to agree to sponsor the bill AND has to ensure all deadlines are met, and that the bill does not get “lost...
Members of the Restore Justice staff and board, led by Julie Anderson and Marshan Allen, have been criss-crossing the state to meet with lawmakers about restoring a parole system in Illinois. Wherever possible, we’ve engaged local residents to join us...
A Message to our Donors about 2018 Q3 and Q4Tax Deductions Restore Justice Foundation, a 501 c 3 organization (a 501 c 3 is both tax exempt and can offer donors a tax deduction), was founded in late 2015 as a companion to Restore Justice Illinois,...
At Restore Justice, we strive to keep regular contact with the hundreds of incarcerated men and women currently serving extreme sentences in Illinois. New legislation is a major topic of interest, and this year's legislative session was as busy as ever! Our last newsletter went out in...