103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2023 and 2024
SB2258

 

Introduced 2/10/2023, by Sen. Robert Peters

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-120 new

    Amends the Unified Code of Corrections. Provides that any person imprisoned in the penitentiary may, after serving 10 years or more of his or her sentence or cumulative sentences, submit a petition for sentencing review in the circuit court of the county in which he or she was originally sentenced. Provides that upon receipt of the petition and assignment to a judge, the judge shall determine within 30 days if the petitioner has sought filing in the appropriate court and has served 10 or more years of his or her sentence. If the court determines that either of those factors are not satisfied, it shall dismiss the petition and notify the petitioner of the reason for the dismissal. Provides that the State's Attorney must be afforded an opportunity to respond to the petition and the court shall provide the petitioner with the opportunity to reply to the petition. Provides that within 90 days after the filing of the petition for sentencing review, the court shall set the matter for a hearing. Provides that this date may be extended by motion of either party and at the court's discretion for good cause shown. Provides that at the sentencing review hearing the court shall consider certain factors. Provides that following the hearing, the court may affirm or reduce the petitioner's sentence and shall be authorized to depart downward from any mandatory minimum or mandatory sentence enhancement, taking into consideration certain mitigating factors. Provides that notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary, any offender who has petitioned the circuit court for sentencing review shall not be eligible to submit a second petition until at least 5 years have elapsed since the date on which the circuit court ruled upon the initial petition. Provides that these provisions shall operate retroactively to provide any person incarcerated for a crime or crimes committed, before the effective date of the amendatory Act, with the opportunity to file a motion for resentencing under these provisions under the terms provided in these provisions. Provides that notwithstanding anything else to the contrary, nothing in these provisions shall be construed to delay parole or mandatory supervised release consideration for petitioners who, prior to the effective date of the amendatory Act, are or will be eligible for release earlier than these provisions.


LRB103 28764 RLC 55147 b

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2258LRB103 28764 RLC 55147 b

1    AN ACT concerning criminal law.
 
2    Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3represented in the General Assembly:
 
4    Section 5. The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by
5adding Section 5-4.5-120 as follows:
 
6    (730 ILCS 5/5-4.5-120 new)
7    Sec. 5-4.5-120. Sentencing review of incarcerated
8individuals. Any person imprisoned in the penitentiary may,
9after serving 10 years or more of his or her sentence or
10cumulative sentences, submit a petition for sentencing review
11in the circuit court of the county in which he or she was
12originally sentenced. The procedure for sentencing review
13shall occur in the following manner:
14    (1) The chief judge of the criminal division of the
15circuit located in a county of 2,000,000 or more inhabitants,
16or in counties under 2,000,000 inhabitants, the chief judge of
17the circuit or a judge assigned by the chief judge, in which
18the petition is filed, shall assign the matter to any judge.
19    (2) Upon receipt of the petition and assignment to a
20judge, the judge shall determine within 30 days if the
21petitioner has sought filing in the appropriate court and has
22served 10 or more years of his or her sentence. If the court
23determines that either of those factors are not satisfied, it

 

 

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1shall dismiss the petition and notify the petitioner of the
2reason for the dismissal. This notification shall be served
3upon the petitioner by certified mail within 10 days of its
4entry. If the court determines the petition was appropriately
5filed, it shall docket the petition. If the petitioner is
6without counsel and alleges in the petition for sentencing
7review that he or she is without means to procure counsel, he
8or she shall state whether or not he or she wishes counsel to
9be appointed to represent him or her. If appointment of
10counsel is requested, the court shall appoint counsel if
11satisfied that the petitioner has no means to procure counsel.
12The clerk of the circuit court shall serve a copy of the
13petition to the State's Attorney of that county or his or her
14representative.
15    (3) Upon receipt of the petition for sentencing review,
16the State's Attorney's Office shall provide the victim or his
17or her family, or both, with a copy of the petition, and notice
18of any restorative justice programs available.
19    (4) The petitioner, if pro se, or his or her attorney may
20amend the petition for sentencing review.
21    (5) The State's Attorney must be afforded an opportunity
22to respond to the petition and the court shall provide the
23petitioner with the opportunity to reply to the petition.
24    (6) Within 90 days after the filing of the petition for
25sentencing review, the court shall set the matter for a
26hearing. This date may be extended by motion of either party

 

 

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1and at the court's discretion for good cause shown.
2    (7) At the sentencing review hearing, the court shall:
3        (A) consider in mitigation the factors listed in
4    paragraphs (A) through (K) of paragraph (8) of this
5    Section;
6        (B) consider the evidence, if any, received at trial;
7        (C) consider any presentence reports;
8        (D) consider the financial impact of incarceration
9    based on the financial impact statement filed with the
10    clerk of the court by the Department of Corrections;
11        (E) consider any additional evidence and information
12    offered by the parties in aggravation and mitigation,
13    including, but not limited to, scientific evidence of
14    recidivism;
15        (F) consider the person's overall record of behavior
16    while incarcerated, including disciplinary history,
17    participation in educational and vocational programs
18    available to the petitioner, including, but not limited
19    to, restorative justice programs, and extent of
20    cooperation with staff;
21        (G) hear arguments as to sentencing alternatives;
22        (H) afford the petitioner the opportunity to make a
23    statement on his or her behalf without being subject to
24    cross-examination;
25        (I) afford the victim or families of victims of the
26    crime, or both, for which the petitioner was originally

 

 

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1    sentenced an opportunity to provide a victim impact
2    statement to the court. The court shall permit those
3    statements and consider the live testimony of a victim or
4    a victim representative.
5    (8) Following the hearing, the court may affirm or reduce
6the petitioner's sentence and shall be authorized to depart
7downward from any mandatory minimum or mandatory sentence
8enhancement, taking into consideration the following factors:
9        (A) the petitioner's current age, as well as the
10    petitioner's age, impetuosity, and level of maturity at
11    the time of the offense, including the ability to consider
12    risks and consequences of behavior, and the presence of
13    cognitive or developmental disability, if any;
14        (B) whether the petitioner was subjected to outside
15    pressure, including peer pressure, familial pressure, or
16    negative influences;
17        (C) the petitioner's family and community
18    circumstances, home environment, educational and social
19    background, including any history of parental neglect,
20    physical, mental, or sexual abuse, involvement in the
21    child welfare system, or other childhood trauma;
22        (D) the nature and circumstances of the offense;
23        (E) the petitioner's degree of participation and
24    specific role in the offense, including the level of
25    planning by the defendant before the offense;
26        (F) whether the petitioner was able to meaningfully

 

 

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1    participate in his or her defense;
2        (G) the petitioner's prior juvenile or criminal
3    history;
4        (H) the history and characteristics of the petitioner
5    at the time of the petition, including rehabilitation and
6    maturity demonstrated by the petitioner;
7        (I) any report from a physical, mental, or psychiatric
8    examination of the petitioner conducted by a licensed
9    health professional;
10        (J) any changes to the law governing criminal
11    convictions, dispositions, or length of stay since the
12    time of sentencing; and
13        (K) any other information the court finds relevant and
14    reliable, including an expression of remorse, if
15    appropriate. However, if the petitioner, on advice of
16    counsel chooses not to make a statement, the court shall
17    not consider a lack of an expression of remorse as an
18    aggravating factor. The order following a sentencing
19    review hearing is a final judgment. Any final judgment
20    entered upon the petition shall be reviewed in a manner
21    pursuant to the rules of the Supreme Court.
22    (9) Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the
23contrary, any offender who has petitioned the circuit court
24for sentencing review under this Section shall not be eligible
25to submit a second petition until at least 5 years have elapsed
26since the date on which the circuit court ruled upon the

 

 

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1initial petition. In considering the second petition, the
2court shall follow the procedure stated in paragraphs (2)
3through (8). Following a hearing on the second petition
4pursuant to this paragraph (9), the court may affirm or reduce
5the petitioner's sentence. The order following a hearing
6pursuant to this paragraph is a final judgment.
7    (10) The petitioner may file a motion seeking leave for
8sentencing review when 5 years have elapsed since the date on
9which the circuit court ruled on a petition filed pursuant to
10paragraph (9). The motion must clearly set forth the need for
11sentencing review, including the efforts the petitioner has
12made toward rehabilitation and his or her demonstrated
13maturity.
14        (A) Within 90 days after the filing of this motion,
15    the court shall examine the motion and enter an order
16    thereon. In considering a motion under this paragraph, the
17    court may examine the court file of the proceeding in
18    which the petitioner was convicted, any action taken by an
19    appellate court in that proceeding, any transcripts of
20    that proceeding, and any transcript or court documents
21    from previous proceedings under this Section. If the court
22    determines the motion is frivolous or is patently without
23    merit, it shall deny the motion in a written order,
24    specifying the underlying basis for its decision that
25    continued incarceration is appropriate and necessary. The
26    order is a final judgment and shall be served upon the

 

 

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1    petitioner by certified mail within 10 days of its entry.
2        (B) If the petition is not dismissed under
3    subparagraph (A), the court shall order the motion for
4    sentencing review to be docketed for further consideration
5    in accordance with the procedure stated in paragraphs (2)
6    through (8).
7    (11) This Section shall operate retroactively to provide
8any person incarcerated for a crime or crimes committed,
9before the effective date of this amendatory Act of the 103rd
10General Assembly, with the opportunity to file a motion for
11resentencing under this Section under the terms provided in
12this Section.
13    (12) Notwithstanding anything else to the contrary in this
14Section, nothing in this Section shall be construed to delay
15parole or mandatory supervised release consideration for
16petitioners who, prior to the effective date of this
17amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly, are or will be
18eligible for release earlier than this Section provides.
19    (13) The clerk of the court shall serve copies of the
20petitions, any amendments to the petition and the final orders
21to the Sentencing Policy Advisory Council. The Sentencing
22Policy Advisory Council shall report on the impact of
23resentencing motions on the prison population contingent on
24having sufficient reliable data to support the analysis. The
25report shall be due 3 years after the effective date of this
26amendatory Act of the 103rd General Assembly.