HJ0096LRB098 21178 RLC 59377 r


  
1
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, The criminal laws of the State of Illinois seek to 
3prescribe penalties which are proportionate to the seriousness 
4of offenses and the differences in rehabilitation 
5possibilities among individual offenders; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes that the data 
7collected and analyzed by State agencies, including the 
8Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council, and independent 
9entities have demonstrated that the State of Illinois 
10experiences overcrowding in prison and jail populations, a 
11continued high rate of recidivism of approximately 50%, and 
12levels of crime that plague Illinois communities; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, The General Assembly recognizes that the State of 
14Illinois currently spends $1.3 billion per year on imprisonment 
15of adults and approximately $86,861 per year to detain a single 
16juvenile; and


  
 
17    WHEREAS, It is in the interest of public safety and the 
18public good of the State to examine the current Illinois 
19criminal justice system and develop comprehensive, 
20evidence-based methods  to more effectively and 
21cost-efficiently sanction criminal offenses and improve 
22outcomes, while holding offenders accountable; therefore, be 
 
 
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1it
  
 
2    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
3NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE 
4SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that the Joint Criminal Justice 
5Reform Committee is created to examine the impact of the 
6current sentencing structure, ensure that the enforcement and 
7punishment of crimes do not disproportionately or unfairly 
8affect certain racial, ethnic, or minority groups, and develop 
9solutions to address the issues that exist within the system; 
10and be it further
  
 
11    RESOLVED, That the Committee shall consist of 10 members of 
12the General Assembly appointed as follows:
13        (1) 3 appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
14    Representatives, one of whom shall serve as 
15    co-chairperson;
16        (2) 3 appointed by the President of the Senate, one of 
17    whom shall serve as a co-chairperson;
18        (3) 2 appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of 
19    Representatives; and
20        (4)  2 appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; 
21    and be it further
  
 
22    RESOLVED, That the Committee shall hold public hearings, at 
23the call of the co-chairpersons, to receive testimony from the 
 
 
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1public regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of Illinois 
2criminal justice system, and the impact of the current 
3sentencing scheme; and be it further
 
4    RESOLVED, That the Committee shall submit a report to the 
5General Assembly no later than December 1, 2014.