HJ0090 97TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HJ0090 LRB097 21557 RLC 69716 r

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, It has been many years since there has been a systematic study of Illinois' correctional and criminal justice system and there exists a need for that study; and

WHEREAS, A study of Illinois' criminal justice and correctional system is necessary to enhance public safety, reduce victimization, reduce recidivism, hold offenders more accountable, enhance probation, mandatory supervised release, and parole supervision, and better manage a growing prison population through increasing public safety, improving rehabilitation, and lowering State expense; and

WHEREAS, A study and formulation of recommendations for criminal justice structural changes can be best carried out through an established Task Force; and

WHEREAS, Enactment of Task Force recommendations, if deemed appropriate at the 2013 session of the General Assembly, is best carried out through a deliberative and specific legislative process; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that there is created a Task Force on Criminal Justice Reform (hereinafter referred to as the Task Force); and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall be composed as follows:

(1) the Governor or his or her designee;

(2) two members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

(3) two members appointed by the President of the Senate;

(4) one member of the House of Representatives appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;

(5) one member of the Senate appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(6) a representative from the Illinois Supreme Court appointed by the Chief Justice;

(7) a representative from the Illinois Sheriffs' Association appointed by the President of the Illinois Sheriffs' Association;

(8) a representative of the Department of State Police appointed by the Director of State Police;

(9) a representative from a State's Attorney's Office, other than Cook County, appointed by the Director of the Office of the State's Attorneys Appellate Prosecutor;

(10) a representative from the Cook County State's Attorney's Office appointed by the Cook County State's Attorney;

(11) a representative from a Public Defender's Office in a county other than Cook County appointed by the State Appellate Defender;

(12) a representative from the Cook County Public Defender's Office appointed by the Cook County Public Defender;

(13) a representative of the State Appellate Defender appointed by the State Appellate Defender;

(14) a representative from the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk's Office appointed by the Cook County Circuit Court Clerk;

(15) a representative of the Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts appointed by the Director of that Office;

(16) a representative of the Cook County Chief Judge's Office appointed by the Chief Judge of the Cook County Circuit;

(17) a representative from each department and agency of the State having involvement with the State criminal justice system appointed by the Governor; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall:

(1) choose its chair and other officers as it deems appropriate;

(2) hold hearings from persons involved or impacted by the criminal justice system; and

(3) study the Illinois criminal justice and correctional system and make recommendations to the General Assembly for structural changes in the Illinois criminal justice and correctional system with the goals of enhancing public safety, reducing victimization and recidivism, holding offenders more accountable, enhancing probation, mandatory supervised release, and parole supervision, and better managing a growing prison population through increasing public safety, improving rehabilitation, and lowering State expense; and be it further

RESOLVED, That members of the Task Force shall receive no additional compensation for their services on the Task Force but may be reimbursed by appropriations made by the General Assembly for their ordinary and necessary expenses; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Task Force shall complete its work and report its findings and recommendations to the General Assembly no later than November 1, 2012.