Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Rauner talks about ISP’s battle against Chicago crime

Posted in:

Illinois

* Gov. Bruce Rauner was asked yesterday what the state was doing about Chicago’s wave of violent crime…

Gov. Rauner: Well, the one thing we have done with our state police is to up the intensity, the manpower– what we call a surge here for a number of months– where we’ve got more state police working our highways. Unfortunately, gang violence is spilling over onto our expressways in Chicago and under the direct jurisdiction of our state police, we are very engaged.

Gov. Rauner (Cont.): We have had a number of involvements in incidents and we are also using the state police with surveillance, undercover drug work and other forms of sophisticated, police support that our state police are providing to the Chicago police and, in fact, other police in districts around the State of Illinois.

Gov. Rauner (Cont.): I’ll also say– I am not ready to really go into detail publicly– but our administration is in conversations with a number of other leaders in public safety in other communities in other states. What have other communities done to reduce their violent crime? Their gang violence?

Gov. Rauner (Cont.): Other communities have taken action—there are different solutions that have been tried. Some have success. Some have had failure. I am a big believer in learning from others, not trying to re-invent the wheel– and listening and learning all the time. That process is well under way and I hope I will be talking with you and many leaders around the State about that in the future.

* The governor was also asked about legislative talks regarding increasing penalties for gun violations…

I don’t want to speculate about any potential future legislation. I think all of our efforts should be thoughtful and strategic. We should assess that together as a state government and policy makers. What makes the most sense to keep people safe, to reduce the crime in our system and help prevent crime in the future by effectively treating- rehabilitating and treating- these offenders and potential offenders who are on the verge of violence or could go down a worse track than they are on. Try to get them off that track and get them on a more productive track.

He repeatedly refused to say too much about the talks on that bill, which is a good thing.

Say what you want about this governor, and we often do, but he is pretty darned good on criminal justice reforms.

* Related…

* Mitchell: A single mom and ex-con, she’s made a difference: “I knew if I was able to sit down with these different politicians and actually talk face-to-face, I knew they would fight on the side of what was right,” Creason told me. “I had a lot of faith that these individuals would understand this was a counterproductive law.” Gov. Bruce Rauner plans to go to Decatur next week to sign the bill.

* Rauner signs justice reforms: ‘People deserve redemption’

* Rauner signs juvenile justice reform bills

* Rauner to sign bill to clamp down on gun trafficking

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:26 am

Comments

Rauner’s grasp on all things Criminal Justice is ridiculously good, and actually a great example of Rauner being engaged and moving an agenda in a positive way with positive results.

I’m very impressed, and Rauner is only getting started in this sphere.

Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:30 am
WBEZ’s Natalie Moore did an excellent piece about “How One Mom Is Building Community In Englewood” https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/how-one-mom-is-building-community-in-englewood/ad478912-c74c-439d-a1cf-52f0c58989b6

Be sure to read all the way to the end to see how a grassroots neighborhood effort can be offhandedly derailed.

– MrJM

Comment by @MisterJayEm Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:41 am
It’s been unfortunate that Rauner has allowed his personal crusades to affect so much. There are things like this where he actually could have done a darn good job. Instead he prefers to joust at MJM & AFSCME it’s quite the missed opportunity.

I suspect he could’ve got a leaner budget & Contract had he only been rational about it instead of my way or the highway.

Comment by Mason born Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:47 am
>I am not ready to really go into detail publicly– but our administration is in conversations with a number of other leader

It’s a brilliant response, and one that has worked for over two years now…”spoken to ____, details to come later.” And the journalistic response by all to many is…report what he says now, don’t follow up ever.

Comment by Earnest Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:51 am
I, for one, have done plenty of poking fun at Rauner in caption contests and in critical remarks here, but I do admire the reforms he is making in our criminal justice system.

Our prisons and criminal courts are a steaming mess. For too long we have run a system that simply isn’t working. The public’s desire for vengeance makes reform unpopular, but doing the right thing has seldom been popular.

Keep up the good work, Governor.

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:58 am
=== but he is pretty darned good on criminal justice reforms===

Which is why his Quixotic fight against unions is so maddening. He could accomplish a great deal if he could get past his blind spot. The budget situation and long-term liabilities are going to neuter any positive outcomes of his criminal justice policies.

Why can’t he see how this is all related?

Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 10:00 am
===Why can’t he see how this is all related? ===

He can. He ain’t stupid. But the union stuff is his raison d’etre.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 10:02 am
===the union stuff is his raison d’etre===

2018 can’t come fast enough.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 10:29 am
Won’t manpower mean the need for more funds? That’s collectivism.

Comment by Dr X Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 10:29 am
Did I just read a governor state that gangs in Chicago are so out of control, even driving through Chicago on our expressways is unsafe?

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 10:52 am
And this is what I find so puzzling about the Governor. Obviously smart, can be very pragmatic, can do humane acts like reform of criminal justice, but these characteristics aren’t consistently displayed. He seems to let the alpha dog thing control him to the financial detriment of the state, and his actions towards our fellow residents served by social service agencies is cavalier at best. He’s capable of running a good overall program, but he’s just not willing to do so because it means he doesn’t have total control, and he’s willing to let helpless people suffer as a tactic to gain the impossible goal? OW rightly corrected me earlier when I characterized the Governor as inept; I’m afraid a more accurate characterization is even less charitable.

Comment by Johnny Tractor Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 3:16 pm
Since the McDonald fiasco, CPD and the mayor have their hands tied in a Gordian knot. That leaves parts of Chicago a war zone. But the Gov can do something others can’t. Why not bring in the National Guard? Just askin…

Comment by just askin Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 5:27 pm
What? Rauner has direct responsibility for violence on Chicago’s expressways. The State Police Staffing was dismal.

Due to the reduced patrols, shootings increased and Rauner was sleeping at the wheel with a very slow response.

Only after increased patrols, staff pulled from down state & overtime did they get control of the shootings on Chicago’s expressways.

Has word come down from up on top not to actively patrol to reduce gasoline and mtc cost? Yep.

Comment by Word Smith Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 6:18 pm
Gov. Rauner (Cont.): I’ll also say– I am not ready to really go into detail publicly..

How many times has this guy used that quote? Usually when he doesn’t have a clue.

Comment by Tinsel Town Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 6:23 pm
Reducing the prison population, equates to fewer IDOC/public employees. Bingo!

Comment by Property of IDOC Tuesday, Aug 23, 16 @ 9:14 pm