HR1069 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1069 LRB098 21143 RLC 59003 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, Too many minor offenders, especially drug offenders, are sentenced to terms of imprisonment in county jails and the Department of Corrections; and

WHEREAS, Many offenders are sentenced to imprisonment for possession of small quantities of controlled substances; and

WHEREAS, These sentences disproportionally impact the poor and disadvantaged; and

WHEREAS, The costs of incarceration exceed the costs of home confinement and treatment; and

WHEREAS, Confinement of these offenders in jail or the Department of Corrections diverts resources that should be devoted to protecting the public from violent offenders; and

WHEREAS, Attitudes toward drug addiction have changed over the years; and

WHEREAS, Drug addiction is as much a medical problem as a criminal justice issue; and

WHEREAS, Treatment is a preferred disposition to jail time for persons convicted of possession of small quantities of controlled substances; and

WHEREAS, We urge prosecutors and judges to consider home confinement to jail time for these low level drug offenders; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge the Governor and the Department of Corrections to discourage prosecutors from recommending and judges from sentencing low level drug offenders to the county jail or the Department of Corrections; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the Governor and the Director of Corrections to do everything in their power to have low level drug offenders currently serving sentences in Department of Corrections facilities released to home confinement; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to the Governor and to the Director of Corrections.