* County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx…
States Attorney Foxx Speaks Out in Support of Critical Criminal Justice Reform Legislation, Illinois House Bill 163
“I believe that the spirit of Illinois House Bill 163 is meant to build trust in police departments across Illinois while addressing long-needed problems to alter unfair criminal justice policies rooted in systemic racism that result in our jails and prisons being disproportionately occupied by Black and Brown individuals. And although not perfect, with thoughtful deliberation and collaboration House Bill 163 can be worked to address concerns, which is why I support this critical piece of criminal justice reform legislation.”
* Leader Durkin…
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) issued the following statement on Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announcing her support of House Bill 163:
“Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx has formally shown her true intentions today by walking away from victims of crime, neighborhoods desperate for safety and men and women of law enforcement. As a former Assistant State’s Attorney in Cook County, I believe her support of House Bill 163 may be the most disappointing and irreconcilable breach of trust between State’s Attorney Foxx and the citizens of Cook County. Every elected State’s Attorney throughout Illinois strongly opposes House Bill 163 except State’s Attorney Foxx. These anti victim and anti law enforcement proposals have no place in our society. Ms. Foxx should change the name on her door to Office of the Public Defender.”
* Related…
* Kim Foxx sees links between mob action at U.S. Capitol and Jussie Smollett demonstrations outside her office: In 2019, members of the Proud Boys, the American Guard and the American Identity Movement joined a protest outside of her office that was organized by the city’s Fraternal Order of Police after Foxx’s office dropped charges against Smollett, a former actor in “Empire.” Experts said at the time that was part of a plan by the groups to recruit new members. Current FOP President John Catanzara, a frequent foe of Foxx’s, also attended that 2019 rally and has been a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump.
*** UPDATE *** SA Rinehart is a Democrat…
A direct statement from Lake County State’s Attorney Eric F. Rinehart:
House Bill 163 represents important changes to our criminal justice system. I fully support these efforts to make our communities safer and our courthouse fairer. This bill includes reforms that I have been advocating for and discussing for years. But more work needs to be done to ensure these critical reforms also take into account our police officers and survivors of crimes.
Yesterday, the Illinois State’s Attorney’s Association sent a blanket letter opposing the first version of the omnibus bill. The letter the Association sent does not fully reflect my views and should have been formatted to include individual signatories as opposed to purporting to represent the views of all its members.
The following reforms are vital to our State. This bill:
• requires body-worn cameras in every law enforcement agency throughout the State
• creates a duty to aid on the part of law enforcement officers
• connects substance abuse treatment programs with First Responder duties
• creates accountability for officers who knowingly lie in police reports
• prevents destruction of law enforcement misconduct records
• strengthens whistle-blower protection for those who report government misconduct
• increases and improves de-escalation and mental health training for law enforcement
• expands access to the law enforcement misconduct database
• maintains felony-murder rule but narrows its application to individuals with violent intent
• requires police to develop a plan to protect children during search warrant raids
• empowers the Attorney General to investigate deaths occurring in police custody
• bans use of chokeholds and other extreme measures
• establishes statewide use of force standards by 2022
For these reasons, I cannot express blanket opposition or support to HB163. Rather, I will keep working throughout the weekend with legislators and policy advocates to improve the bill and to ensure that it adequately protects victims from their abusers and attackers. It is my sincere hope that we can accomplish these reforms in this legislative session.
- @misterjayem - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 2:00 pm:
“walking away from victims of crime, neighborhoods desperate for safety and men and women of law enforcement.”
There’s nothing new about this dishonest rhetoric.
Those who oppose police accountability have claimed to represent victims and neighborhoods for as long as there have been police misdeeds.
Durkin should take a seat. The citizens of Cook County spoke for themselves two months ago when they re-elected Kim Foxx.
– MrJM
- Socially DIstant Watcher - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 2:09 pm:
Will Durkin amend his statement in light of the Lake County State’s Attorney’s release?
- @misterjayem - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 2:11 pm:
To the update: The citizens of Lake County also spoke for themselves two months ago.
– MrJM
- Amalia - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 2:25 pm:
Rinehart ia not in favor of the bill. he says it needs work. work with him on it, just as Kwame worked with Bob Berlin on other matters. telling. leave Kim on the side, alone.
- Phenomynous - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 2:27 pm:
Amend the bill to apply to only Cook and Lake Counties.
- DuPage - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 2:34 pm:
I think Durkin is a citizen of Cook County, and has a right to talk about who represents them as their states attorney. He appears to have a minority view, but does not mean he should be “cancelled”.
- ;) - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 2:35 pm:
So, the SA in fact doesn’t actually support the bill, he just supports individual concepts contained within the bill. What a goof. Almost everyone supports individual concepts in the bill, but it is the bill as a whole, as it is presently drafted and filed, that is problematic; that is the argument almost every reasonable person has made thus far.
- I live in Cook. - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 2:37 pm:
We all do not support Foxx. Out with her lenient policies. And yes, I’m a Dem from the hood.
- Amalia - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 2:39 pm:
ARDC, tick toc. Special prosecutor report.
- @misterjayem - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 2:46 pm:
“And yes, I’m a Dem from the hood.”
Of course you are, officer.
– MrJM
- low level - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 2:51 pm:
“As a former Assistant State’s Attorney in Cook County”. — Durkin
Foxx would probably say “exactly”.
As a CC ASA when so many innocent people were locked up.
- Hank - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 3:15 pm:
Mr. Lake County SA- do you support the elimination of qualified immunity , compulsory testimony of victims at a bond hearing … you forgot to mention those aspects .
- MK - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 3:23 pm:
Also a former Cook County Assistant State’s Attorney (and former Assistant AG). Take a breath, Jim, this is a good bill. Offer amendments, but maybe you should lose this faux tone of hysteria. There are many reasons Kim Foxx was elected. Reforming our CCSAO was a big reason.
- Dotnonymous - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 3:28 pm:
“And yes, I’m a Dem from the hood.”
If you are from “The Hood”…I want to be from Gilligan’s Island…Okeedokee?
- Frumpy White Guy - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 3:54 pm:
Individuals who are involved in any illegal activity are actually human beings. If we as a society work with these human beings they are more likely to become happy, healthy, contributing members of society. The old-fashioned law and order guilty till proven innocent has been a problem with our criminal justice system. Please view these individuals who are caught up in criminal acts as future assets to our society. Pretend they are your sons or daughters.
- Louis G Atsaves - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 4:55 pm:
Reinhart was endorsed by Foxx the past election.
- Johnny99 - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 5:05 pm:
Perhaps strip prosecutors immunity.
Why don’t we just hold police to the same ethical and legal standards we hold attorneys, Doctors and elected officials to. A higher percentage of cook co politicians go to prison than police. Kim Foxx should be wearing a body camera at all times she has been shown to be completely dishonest. Madigan obviously is willing to destroy law and order in Illinois in order to retain power.
- Three Dimensional Checkers - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 7:16 pm:
The affidavit requirement for police misconduct complaints has been part of state law for ages. The rhetoric was always that it was part of the police officer CBAs, but state law always trumped the CBAs. I guess the timing to eliminate was not right until now or something.
- Birds on the Bat - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 7:29 pm:
The hatred for law enforcement from all the arm chair cops around here is sickening. This is a great state to be a criminal in for sure. 875 murders in Chicago last year but nobody wants to discuss that.
- Oswego Willy - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 7:36 pm:
=== The hatred for law enforcement from all the arm chair cops around here is sickening.===
Lemme guess, you think the Chicago FOP leader is smart too, and holding police accountable is bad, because what we have them doing now has crime shrinking, and trust in law enforcement is at an all time high?
- Birds on the Bat - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 8:32 pm:
Keep guessing Willy. You’re wrong as usual. I’m a big fan of accountability. Police, politicians, media, parents. Difference between me and most folks around here is I’d like to see criminals held accountable too.
- Oswego Willy - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 8:35 pm:
=== Difference between me and most folks around here is I’d like to see criminals held accountable too.===
You mean like Laquan McDonald
- Regular democrat - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 8:48 pm:
I would be surprised if an agreement isn’t reached over qualified immunity. Police officers acting in good faith and legally certainly deserve it.
- Birds on the Bat - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 8:57 pm:
Sorry, Willy. It’s pointless to try and have an adult conversation with you and the other Democrites around here. You immediately jump to extremes. Your response in an embarrassment. How many looters in Chicago has Kim Foxx prosecuted? Of the 875 murders in Chicago last year, how many of there killers have been brought to justice. It just doesn’t matter to Democrites unless a police officer is involved. True story.
- Oswego Willy - Saturday, Jan 9, 21 @ 9:05 pm:
=== You immediately jump to extremes.===
You still don’t think, or haven’t written about accountability, have ya?
Of course not.
That’s embarrassing. You keep being you. I know “Chicago”….