This campaign is being initiated to reach out to our communities, in hopes of encouraging and empowering change that will help take the necessary measures to institute a more productive and effective criminal justice system that is both just and firm.

It is our position as tax-paying citizens to petition to the legislature in an attempt to combat the influx of prisoners into the prison system creating an overcrowded maximum-security department with no design toward restorative justice.

Restoring offenders to useful citizenship has become lost in the melee of being tough on crime. Granted, the legislatures' job is extremely difficult when it comes to creating laws to crack down on crime and how to punish offenders. We are not asking that this legislature create a more proportionate way of sentencing offenders along with the notion of restoring them back to society to be useful to their communities.

Generation upon generation of young black and Latino men who have to grow up in the harsh environmental conditions of inner-city life has to no do so fatherless because the system has locked their Fathers up and thrown away the key. now this process is to be repeated due to the lack of male presence in the home when it comes to violent offenders Illinois law is systemically designed to keep young black and brown men incarcerated.

SB 3233: FAIR AND INCLUSIVE EARNED DISCRETIONARY RELEASE

Victims of crime, convicted people, and their families all suffer when people are locked up for years beyond the needs of public safety. Nearly every other state has some mechanism to release long-term incarcerated individuals who are ready to rejoin society. Illinois does not. If nothing changes, over 5,000 Illinoisans—our mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, friends, and loved ones-- will be required to grow old and die in prison. To avert this human and financial crisis and help repair our families and communities, SB 3233 provides a fair and inclusive mechanism for every incarcerated Illinoisan to demonstrate their readiness to return home.

The bill states that A person serving A term of imprisonment in A D.O.C institution or facility is eligible for Earned Discretionary Release (EDR) and hearing that if he or she has served the lesser of: (1) A term of imprisonment of at least 20years; (2) 25% of his or her sentence; or (3) The minimum term of imprisonment for the most serious offense for which the person was convicted. Provides that A person serving A term of natural life imprisonment is eligible for (EDR) and A parole hearing after serving A term of imprisonment of at least 20years. Requires I.D.O.C to conduct A needs assessment to determine each person`s rehabilitative needs and to provide that particular programming, Allows everyone to review their Master Record File and challenge inaccurate info, Provides the right to legal representation, to be present and testify at parole hearings, Requires I.D.O.C to facilitate better communication w/ your loved ones, Provides additional sentence credits for Veterans, in effect repeals TRUTH IN SENTENCE/ LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE. IT is retroactive.

Please Contact State Senatate Sponsors

Sen. Celina Villanueva & Robert Peters

Also reaching out to your other elected officials can help us get the support we need to pass the bill. You can find them here: https://www.elections.il.gov/electionoperations/districtlocator/AddressFinder.aspx