* From the synopsis to HB5473, which has only one sponsor…

Creates the Second Chance Seat in Every Class Act. Provides that each institution of higher education shall reserve at least one enrollment in each class for a returning resident (a person who is a resident of and domiciled in Illinois, has graduated from high school or the equivalent, has been convicted of a felony by a court sitting in Illinois, was sentenced to incarceration pursuant to that conviction, and is not currently incarcerated) and at least one enrollment in each online class for an incarcerated individual. Provides for computer equipment, Internet connections, books, and supplies for enrolled incarcerated individuals. Creates the Incarcerated Individuals and Returning Residents Educational Supply Fund as a fund of the Department of Returning Resident Affairs. Provides that moneys in the Fund shall be used exclusively to pay for costs that incarcerated individuals and returning residents incur for books or other supplies needed to take classes under the Act. Provides that any concession or similar agreement between a public institution of higher education and the operator of a bookstore or similar operation at that public institution of higher education shall include a provision requiring the operator of the bookstore or similar operation to pay 1% of its gross revenues from the operation of that bookstore or similar operation to the Fund.

…Adding… From the Safer Foundation…

Leaders across the state have announced their commitment to reducing crime in our communities. Those of us who work every day with justice-involved individuals know that the best way to reduce crime is to address the social determinants that erode communities and create instability.

It is imperative to help justice-involved individuals through improving employment opportunities, increasing affordable housing, making educational prospects attainable, and providing behavioral and primary care health services. These are the things that justice-involved individuals, like everyone else, need to be successful and healthy. The bottom line is healthy and stable people make healthy and stable communities.

Illinois’ current approach to recidivism is not working. The result is a 40% recidivism rate which is estimated to have cost Illinois over $13 billion between 2018 and 2023 according to a 2018 report issued by the Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council.

Six bills introduced to the Illinois General Assembly, collectively known as the Second Chance State Initiative, aim to reduce crime by responding to the social determinants of justice involvement, incarceration, and recidivism. These bills should be adopted.

The centerpiece of this initiative, the Second Chance State Act, will create a statewide agency to coordinate government and not-for-profit programs to create comprehensive, personalized services to help justice-involved individuals avoid recidivism.

Additional components of the Initiative address other social determinants of crime:

The Second Chance State Behavioral Health Workforce Development Act leverages formerly incarcerated individuals’ ability to connect with their peers by providing them educational scholarships and other pathways to become licensed behavioral healthcare professionals.

The Second Chance State Housing Act will revitalize neighborhoods by using tax credits and other vehicles to rehabilitate tax delinquent and distressed residences for use by the formerly incarcerated.

The Second Chance State Contracts Act creates sustainable employment for the formerly incarcerated by earmarking dollars from State public works and collective bargaining contracts for apprenticeship programs to train them.

The Second Chance State Education Act provides current and formerly incarcerated individuals with an opportunity for sustainable success by requiring colleges to reserve one seat in every class for them, tuition free.

The Second Chance State Reimaging Justice Act creates an alternative to prosecution that allows justice-involved residents to receive individualized services facilitated by community-based organizations in 13 “hub” communities throughout the State.

Sustainable reductions in crime require sustainable responses to the social determinants that cause it. The Second Chance State Initiative will create a transformative program that will provide significant assistance to justice-involved individuals. By addressing the social determinants that are proven to impact recidivism, Illinois will be poised to achieve significant decreases in overall crime, resulting in healthy people and healthy communities. We urge the public and lawmakers to support it.

Victor Dickson
President & CEO Safer Foundation

* Illinois Policy Institute via Center Square…

State lawmakers have a chance to let Illinoisans clean out the government that no longer fits.

Illinois House Bill 5276 would let local voters more easily petition for a ballot referendum to dissolve a unit of government, giving citizens direct control over how many layers of government they want. It simplifies those 40 pages of instructions, following the recommendations of a bipartisan task force that looked at the problem in 2016 and saw little reason all those little governments couldn’t be rolled up into cities or counties to cut duplication and overhead.

Instead of making reformers get petition signatures equivalent to 10% of the voters in the last general election, it drops the threshold to 5%. It lays out rules ensuring voters in all affected areas approve of dissolutions or consolidations, and for how responsibilities and property are transferred after approval.

Democratic Rep. Jonathan Carroll is carrying the IPI-supported bill.

* Press release…

Legislation to protect Illinois residents from drone surveillance but allow police to better employ the aerial devices in critical searches and investigations has been introduced in the Illinois General Assembly.

In the eight years since the initial passage of the Illinois Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act, the number of drones has increased exponentially, and the technology behind drones has transformed. Drones are now regularly utilized to inspect bridges, water towers and power lines as well as by news media, realtors, farmers, and hobbyists.

A coalition of law enforcement officials has met for months to develop legislation to create a modernized framework in Illinois. Groups have included the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police and the Aurora, Elgin, and Palos Heights police departments. Aurora police successfully used drones as part of the overall strategy that saved lives in the deadly Henry Pratt shooting three years ago this week.

“The enhanced capabilities offered by drones is critical for law enforcement and our Illinois laws need to be continually modernized to react to key situations and even more importantly, to preserve individual privacy,” said Sgt. Andrew Wolcott of the Aurora Police Department.

Lt. Matt Udelhoven, a drone expert with the Elgin Police Department, said the recommendations in Senate Bill 4009 and House Bill 5452 are “narrowly tailored to preserve time and resources and most importantly, increase public and personnel safety.”

Among the bill’s proposed changes are:

· Updates the definition of “emotionally disturbed persons” with a narrowly tailored definition to determine when law enforcement may use a drone to determine the best course of action for a person in mental distress. The bill also provides law enforcement an option to assess the situation without the use of physical police personnel, which can aggravate a person in distress.
· Updates the definition of “special event” to reflect the specific designation by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The bill permits the use of a drone by a law enforcement agency at a special event to prepare for or observe crowd size, density, and movement; to assess public safety staffing; or to oversee the general safety of the participants. If the special event is occurring on private property, use of a drone for this exception shall be authorized by the owners or organizers prior to the flight.
· Eliminates the word “data” from the definition of “information” and clarifies that the word “information” does not include training of law enforcement officers.
· Provides that a law enforcement agency may use a drone to respond to Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) dispatched calls for 911 service but only when the primary purpose for the response is to locate and/or assist victims, identify offenders, and to guide emergency response.
· Provides that information gathered by a drone is subject to the disclosure and exception to disclosure provisions of the Freedom of Information Act. The current law restricts the ability to release drone footage, so the new language increases transparency.

Senate Bill 4009 is sponsored by Senator John Connor, D-Lockport; and House Bill 5452 is sponsored by Rep. Thaddeus Jones, D-Calumet City. The bills will be considered during the spring session of the Illinois General Assembly.

…Adding… Press release…

At the request of Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart, State Senator Julie Morrison (D-Lake Forest) introduced a measure to create a texting system that would automatically update victims and witnesses on pending court dates.

“We have an option to make the court system as accessible as possible to victims of crime,” Morrison said. “This pilot program is innovative and will make a difference in how Lake County will be able to communicate with victims and their families.”

Morrison’s proposal would create a pilot program through the Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office to text victims and witnesses about upcoming court dates.

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office employs 12 full-time victim-witness coordinators who guide and support victims through the court process. The coordinators work to connect the survivors of crimes with services while also educating them about how their own case will proceed through court. Part of the coordinators’ duties include updating victims and witnesses on changes in court dates.

“Our office is here to support every victim in every way we can. We need this ‘safety net’ of information so that we can be 100% sure we are reaching those who need the courthouse the most. Our coordinators are amazing,” Rinehart said. “Some of them have over 150 victims to contact. With this new program, they can prioritize individualized support while this system quickly delivers basic and accurate information to every victim and every witness.”

The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office estimated that it supports more than 1,000 victims at a time. While the program spearheaded by Morrison would start in Lake County, it would give other prosecutors’ offices a chance to learn and build upon the Lake County program down the road.

Senate Bill 3779 awaits a hearing in the Appropriations-Judiciary Committee.