The Problem (What is happening right now):
In Illinois, if a drunk driver kills someone, the current law states the penalty is 3 to 14 years in prison. To the public, this sounds like a punishment. In reality, the math allows killers to walk free with zero prison time.
Under Illinois’ Truth-in-Sentencing laws, offenders only have to serve 85% of their sentence.
85% of the current 3-year minimum sentence is exactly 2.55 years. [1]
Because felony DUI cases routinely take 2.5 to 3 years to go to trial, offenders exploit pre-trial "emergency release" loopholes or sit on electronic monitoring.
When they are finally sentenced to the minimum, they get full credit for that time passed.
The result? They are credited with "time served" and walk free without ever spending a single day inside a state prison for taking a human life.
Furthermore, dangerous repeat offenders who have already proven they ignore revoked licenses are routinely released back into our neighborhoods within 24 hours of a fatal crash, using unverified family excuses while victims' families are left grieving.
 
Our Demand (What we are fighting to change):
We, the citizens of Illinois, demand that the Illinois General Assembly and the Governor immediately amend the Illinois Unified Code of Corrections (730 ILCS 5/) and pretrial statutes to enact the following changes:
Raise the Mandatory Minimum to 10 Years: Increase the minimum sentence for an Aggravated DUI resulting in death from 3 years to a mandatory minimum of 10 years. At the 85% requirement, this guarantees an offender serves at least 8.5 years, forcing real prison time regardless of court delays. [1]
Eliminate the "Time-Served" Credit Loophole: Mandate that pre-trial time or electronic monitoring cannot be used to wipe out the mandatory minimum prison stay for a DUI fatality.
Mandatory Pre-Trial Detention: Amend the Pretrial Fairness Act to require automatic, non-discretionary detention until trial for any driver who causes a fatality while driving under the influence with a prior DUI or a revoked license. No exceptions, no immediate "emergency" releases.
One voice is loud, but many voices are louder. Sign this petition to force Illinois lawmakers to close these loopholes and protect our families.