Juvenile Justice
HB5020 / SB3210: Procedural Protections for Children Sentenced as Adults through EJJ (Rep. Dave Vella & Sen. Laura Fine)
- Makes common-sense changes to Extended Jurisdiction Juvenile (EJJ) sentencing to ensure children in juvenile court have at least the protections guaranteed to adults in criminal court. Learn more by viewing the fact sheet here. In collaboration with the Office of the Cook County Board President.
Criminal Justice
HB4782: Remove Odor-Proof Container Requirement for Cannabis (Rep. Lisa Davis & Sen. Javier Cervantes)
Repeals the requirement that cannabis be transported in “odor-proof containers” while in vehicles, reducing confusion and removing an outdated legal requirement with no public safety or other benefit. Learn more by viewing the fact sheet here. In collaboration with Cannabis Equity Illinois and the ACLU of Illinois.
HB4422 / SB3563 : Ensure Fair Access to Diversion Programs (Rep. Kevin Olickal & Sen. Adriane Johnson)
Gives judges discretion to sentence people to the First Time Weapons Offense and Second Chance Probation programs and allows for more individualized sentencing. Learn more by viewing the fact sheet here.
HB4285 / SB2867: Personal Responsibility in Firearms Sentencing (Rep. Kelly Cassidy & Sen. Mary Edly-Allen)
Limits the application of an existing 15-year sentencing enhancement for possession—not use—of a firearm in the commission of an offense to the party who actually personally possessed the weapon. Learn more by viewing the fact sheet here. In collaboration with the Office of the Cook County Board President.
HB5308: Technical Fixes to Fitness Processes (Rep. Maura Hirschauer & Sen. Karina Villa)
Clarifies judicial discretion regarding when someone must await transfer to a DHS facility in custody, and corrects a technical omission in Public Act 104-0318. Learn more by viewing the fact sheet here. In collaboration with the DuPage County Public Defender’s Office, Equip for Equality, and Mental Health America of Illinois.
HB4559 / SB3333: Clarify Access to Sentence Credits for Jail Programming (Rep. Norma Hernandez & Sen. Laura Ellman)
Guarantees people in jail awaiting trial receive sentencing credit for completion of eligible programs, as intended, by clarifying statutory language. Learn more by viewing the fact sheet here. In collaboration with the DuPage County Public Defender’s Office, Women’s Justice Institute, John Howard Association, and Alliance for Safety & Justice.
Immigration & Criminal Justice
SB1266 / HB4367: Equal Access to Post-Conviction Relief (Sen. Karina Villa & Rep. Justin Slaughter)
- Allows people who are not in custody and who 1) have claims of actual innocence or 2) would not have pled guilty if they had known the immigration consequences of a plea deal to pursue post-conviction relief. Learn more by viewing the fact sheet here. In collaboration with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and the National Immigrant Justice Center.
Traffic
SB3416 / HB4217: Equal Representation for Public Defender Clients in Statutory Summary Suspension Hearings (Sen. Rob Martwick & Rep. Rick Ryan)
- Allows public defender’s offices to represent existing criminal defense clients in hearings to restore access to their driver’s licenses as part of their traffic cases. Learn more by viewing the fact sheet here. In collaboration with the Chicago Bar Foundation, Chicago Bar Association, and Office of the Cook County Board President.
Family Defense
HB3169: The Protecting Innocent Families Act (Rep. Mary Beth Canty)
- Requires doctors working under contracts with DCFS to disclose their investigatory role to families in treatment settings and requires parents be informed of their right to a second opinion. Also contains data collection and publication requirements. Learn more by viewing the fact sheet here. In collaboration with the Family Justice Resource Center and Legal Action Chicago.