Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Parliamentary hold lifted off criminal justice reform trailer bill

Posted in:

Illinois

The Senate voted 42-17, and the House followed with a 79-36 vote, to approve a package of changes to a policing reform law set to begin in July. But reflecting tensions within the Democratic caucus, a parliamentary hold was placed on the bill, keeping it from being sent to the governor.

The new policing law was a major plank of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus social justice platform. It included a ban on police chokeholds, a requirement that police wear body cameras by 2025 and expanded training on use of force and crisis intervention. It also allows for anonymous police misconduct complaints.

The proposed changes would allow an officer to view his own body camera video before writing a police report, require that a felony violation of body camera requirements be proven to be intentional and an attempt to obstruct justice, revise the definition of chokeholds and remove a ban on targeting someone’s back with a Taser. […]

But the changes caused some tension, particularly within the Black Caucus. State Rep. Curtis Tarver, D-Chicago, noted that law enforcement, which opposed much of the original law, didn’t oppose the new changes. “People don’t oppose things when we start clawing them back and watering them down,” said Tarver, who voted against the measure.

Rep. Sonya Harper filed a motion to reconsider the vote after the bill passed and withdrew it today.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 10:26 am

Comments

I’m always suspicious of banking “reforms” that aren’t opposed by bankers and environmental “reforms” that aren’t opposed by polluters.

I’m similarly suspicious of policing “reforms” that aren’t opposed by police.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 10:41 am
I’m similarly suspicious of policing “reforms” that aren’t opposed by police.

What about political ethics reforms? Or any reforms affecting elected officials.

Comment by Birds on the Bat Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 10:47 am
===suspicious of policing “reforms” that aren’t opposed by police===

Sheriffs slipped in opposition, if that makes you feel better.

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 11:05 am
“What about political ethics reforms? Or any reforms affecting elected officials.”

If an ethics reform is uniformly supported by elected officials, it is almost certainly rubbish.

Fortunately, elected officials almost never have perfectly uniform interests due to party politics and individual ambition.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 11:50 am
“Sheriffs slipped in opposition, if that makes you feel better.”

Thanks, Rich — unfortunately, I’m constitutionally incapable of feeling better.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 11:55 am
Haas also removed her motion to reconsider on the Pembroke bill today.

Comment by Been There Wednesday, Jun 2, 21 @ 2:14 pm

Add a comment

Sorry, comments are closed at this time.

Previous Post: ComEd case defendants argue for dismissal
Next Post: Reform groups slam ethics bill

Last 10 posts:

Reader comments closed for the weekend (05-17)
Republicans denied TRO in bid to be appointed to ballot (05-17)
Isabel’s afternoon roundup (05-17)
It’s almost a law (05-17)
Credit Unions: A Smart Financial Choice for Illinois Consumers (05-17)
Was the CTU lobby day over-hyped? (05-17)
'Re-renters' tax in the budget mix? (05-17)
It’s just a bill (05-17)
Open thread (05-17)
Isabel’s morning briefing (05-17)