State of Illinois
92nd General Assembly
Legislation

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[ House Amendment 001 ]


92_HB1969

 
                                               LRB9203275ARsb

 1        AN ACT concerning criminal law.

 2        Be it enacted by the People of  the  State  of  Illinois,
 3    represented in the General Assembly:

 4        Section 5.  The Unified Code of Corrections is amended by
 5    changing Section 3-6-3 as follows:

 6        (730 ILCS 5/3-6-3) (from Ch. 38, par. 1003-6-3)
 7        Sec. 3-6-3.  Rules and Regulations for Early Release.
 8             (a) (1)  The   Department   of   Corrections   shall
 9        prescribe  rules and regulations for the early release on
10        account of good  conduct  of  persons  committed  to  the
11        Department  which  shall  be  subject  to  review  by the
12        Prisoner Review Board.
13             (2)  The rules  and  regulations  on  early  release
14        shall  provide,  with respect to offenses committed on or
15        after June 19, 1998, the following:
16                  (i)  that a prisoner who is serving a  term  of
17             imprisonment  for  first degree murder shall receive
18             no good conduct credit and shall  serve  the  entire
19             sentence imposed by the court;
20                  (ii)  that  a  prisoner  serving a sentence for
21             attempt to commit first degree murder,  solicitation
22             of   murder,   solicitation   of  murder  for  hire,
23             intentional homicide of an unborn  child,  predatory
24             criminal  sexual  assault  of  a  child,  aggravated
25             criminal  sexual  assault,  criminal sexual assault,
26             aggravated kidnapping,  aggravated  battery  with  a
27             firearm,  heinous  battery,  aggravated battery of a
28             senior citizen, or aggravated  battery  of  a  child
29             shall  receive no more than 4.5 days of good conduct
30             credit for each month of  his  or  her  sentence  of
31             imprisonment; and
 
                            -2-                LRB9203275ARsb
 1                  (iii)  that  a  prisoner serving a sentence for
 2             home invasion, armed robbery,  aggravated  vehicular
 3             hijacking,  aggravated  discharge  of  a firearm, or
 4             armed violence with a category I weapon or  category
 5             II  weapon,  when  the  court has made and entered a
 6             finding, pursuant to  subsection  (c-1)  of  Section
 7             5-4-1  of  this  Code,  that  the conduct leading to
 8             conviction for the enumerated  offense  resulted  in
 9             great bodily harm to a victim, shall receive no more
10             than  4.5 days of good conduct credit for each month
11             of his or her sentence of imprisonment; and.
12                  (iv)  that a prisoner who is serving a sentence
13             for a crime committed as a result  of  the  use  of,
14             abuse  of,  or  addiction to alcohol or a controlled
15             substance shall receive no good conduct credit until
16             he or she participates in and completes a  substance
17             abuse  treatment  program  that  is  approved by the
18             Department.
19             (2.1)  For all offenses, other than those enumerated
20        in subdivision (a)(2) committed  on  or  after  June  19,
21        1998,  and other than the offense of reckless homicide as
22        defined in subsection (e) of Section 9-3 of the  Criminal
23        Code  of  1961 committed on or after January 1, 1999, the
24        rules and regulations shall provide that a  prisoner  who
25        is  serving  a term of imprisonment shall receive one day
26        of good conduct  credit  for  each  day  of  his  or  her
27        sentence  of  imprisonment  or recommitment under Section
28        3-3-9. Each day of good conduct credit  shall  reduce  by
29        one   day   the  prisoner's  period  of  imprisonment  or
30        recommitment under Section 3-3-9.
31             (2.2)  A prisoner serving a  term  of  natural  life
32        imprisonment  or  a  prisoner  who  has been sentenced to
33        death shall receive no good conduct credit.
34             (2.3)  The rules and regulations  on  early  release
 
                            -3-                LRB9203275ARsb
 1        shall  provide  that a prisoner who is serving a sentence
 2        for reckless homicide as defined  in  subsection  (e)  of
 3        Section  9-3 of the Criminal Code of 1961 committed on or
 4        after January 1, 1999 shall receive no more than 4.5 days
 5        of good conduct credit for  each  month  of  his  or  her
 6        sentence of imprisonment.
 7             (2.4)  The  rules  and  regulations on early release
 8        shall provide with respect to the offenses of  aggravated
 9        battery with a machine gun or a firearm equipped with any
10        device  or  attachment designed or used for silencing the
11        report of a firearm or aggravated discharge of a  machine
12        gun  or  a firearm equipped with any device or attachment
13        designed or used for silencing the report of  a  firearm,
14        committed   on  or  after  the  effective  date  of  this
15        amendatory  Act  of  1999,  that  a  prisoner  serving  a
16        sentence for any of these offenses shall receive no  more
17        than  4.5  days  of good conduct credit for each month of
18        his or her sentence of imprisonment.
19             (3)  The rules and regulations  shall  also  provide
20        that  the  Director  may  award up to 180 days additional
21        good conduct credit for meritorious service  in  specific
22        instances  as  the  Director deems proper; except that no
23        more than 90 days of good conduct credit for  meritorious
24        service shall be awarded to any prisoner who is serving a
25        sentence  for conviction of first degree murder, reckless
26        homicide while under the  influence  of  alcohol  or  any
27        other  drug, aggravated kidnapping, kidnapping, predatory
28        criminal sexual assault of a child,  aggravated  criminal
29        sexual  assault,  criminal sexual assault, deviate sexual
30        assault, aggravated  criminal  sexual  abuse,  aggravated
31        indecent  liberties with a child, indecent liberties with
32        a child, child pornography, heinous  battery,  aggravated
33        battery  of a spouse, aggravated battery of a spouse with
34        a  firearm,  stalking,  aggravated  stalking,  aggravated
 
                            -4-                LRB9203275ARsb
 1        battery of a child, endangering the life or health  of  a
 2        child,  cruelty  to  a  child,  or narcotic racketeering.
 3        Notwithstanding the foregoing, good  conduct  credit  for
 4        meritorious service shall not be awarded on a sentence of
 5        imprisonment  imposed  for  conviction of: (i) one of the
 6        offenses  enumerated  in  subdivision  (a)(2)  when   the
 7        offense  is  committed  on  or  after June 19, 1998, (ii)
 8        reckless homicide as defined in subsection (e) of Section
 9        9-3 of the Criminal Code of  1961  when  the  offense  is
10        committed  on  or  after  January  1,  1999, or (iii) for
11        conviction  of  one  of  the   offenses   enumerated   in
12        subdivision  (a)(2.4) when the offense is committed on or
13        after the effective date of this amendatory Act of 1999.
14             (4)  The rules and regulations  shall  also  provide
15        that  the  good  conduct  credit accumulated and retained
16        under paragraph (2.1) of subsection (a) of  this  Section
17        by  any  inmate  during specific periods of time in which
18        such inmate  is  engaged  full-time  in  substance  abuse
19        programs,    correctional    industry   assignments,   or
20        educational programs provided  by  the  Department  under
21        this  paragraph  (4)  and  satisfactorily  completes  the
22        assigned  program  as  determined by the standards of the
23        Department, shall be multiplied by a factor of  1.25  for
24        program participation before August 11, 1993 and 1.50 for
25        program participation on or after that date.  However, no
26        inmate  shall be eligible for the additional good conduct
27        credit under this paragraph (4) while assigned to a  boot
28        camp,  mental health unit, or electronic detention, or if
29        convicted of an offense enumerated in paragraph (a)(2) of
30        this Section that is committed on or after June 19, 1998,
31        or if  convicted  of  reckless  homicide  as  defined  in
32        subsection  (e)  of  Section  9-3 of the Criminal Code of
33        1961 if the offense is committed on or after  January  1,
34        1999,  or  if  convicted  of  an  offense  enumerated  in
 
                            -5-                LRB9203275ARsb
 1        paragraph  (a)(2.4)  of this Section that is committed on
 2        or after the effective date of  this  amendatory  Act  of
 3        1999,  or first degree murder, a Class X felony, criminal
 4        sexual assault, felony criminal sexual abuse,  aggravated
 5        criminal sexual abuse, aggravated battery with a firearm,
 6        or any predecessor or successor offenses with the same or
 7        substantially the same elements, or any inchoate offenses
 8        relating  to  the foregoing offenses.  No inmate shall be
 9        eligible for the additional  good  conduct  credit  under
10        this  paragraph  (4)  who  (i)  has  previously  received
11        increased  good  conduct  credit under this paragraph (4)
12        and has subsequently been convicted of a felony, or  (ii)
13        has  previously  served  more  than one prior sentence of
14        imprisonment  for  a  felony  in  an  adult  correctional
15        facility.
16             Educational,   vocational,   substance   abuse   and
17        correctional industry programs under which  good  conduct
18        credit may be increased under this paragraph (4) shall be
19        evaluated  by  the  Department on the basis of documented
20        standards.  The Department shall report  the  results  of
21        these   evaluations  to  the  Governor  and  the  General
22        Assembly by September 30th of  each  year.   The  reports
23        shall  include data relating to the recidivism rate among
24        program participants.
25             Availability of these programs shall be  subject  to
26        the  limits  of  fiscal  resources  appropriated  by  the
27        General  Assembly  for  these purposes.  Eligible inmates
28        who are denied immediate admission shall be placed  on  a
29        waiting   list   under   criteria   established   by  the
30        Department.   The  inability  of  any  inmate  to  become
31        engaged  in  any  such programs by reason of insufficient
32        program resources or for  any  other  reason  established
33        under  the  rules and regulations of the Department shall
34        not  be  deemed  a  cause  of  action  under  which   the
 
                            -6-                LRB9203275ARsb
 1        Department  or  any  employee  or agent of the Department
 2        shall be liable for damages to the inmate.
 3             (5)  Whenever  the  Department  is  to  release  any
 4        inmate earlier than it otherwise would because of a grant
 5        of good conduct credit for meritorious service  given  at
 6        any  time  during  the  term,  the  Department shall give
 7        reasonable advance notice of the impending release to the
 8        State's Attorney of the county where the  prosecution  of
 9        the inmate took place.
10        (b)  Whenever  a  person  is  or has been committed under
11    several convictions, with separate sentences,  the  sentences
12    shall  be  construed  under  Section  5-8-4  in  granting and
13    forfeiting of good time.
14        (c)  The Department shall prescribe rules and regulations
15    for revoking good conduct credit, or suspending  or  reducing
16    the  rate of accumulation of good conduct credit for specific
17    rule  violations,  during  imprisonment.   These  rules   and
18    regulations  shall  provide  that  no inmate may be penalized
19    more than one  year  of  good  conduct  credit  for  any  one
20    infraction.
21        When  the  Department  seeks to revoke, suspend or reduce
22    the rate of accumulation of any good conduct credits  for  an
23    alleged  infraction  of  its  rules,  it  shall bring charges
24    therefor against the prisoner sought to  be  so  deprived  of
25    good  conduct  credits  before  the  Prisoner Review Board as
26    provided in subparagraph (a)(4)  of  Section  3-3-2  of  this
27    Code,  if  the  amount  of credit at issue exceeds 30 days or
28    when during any 12 month period,  the  cumulative  amount  of
29    credit revoked exceeds 30 days except where the infraction is
30    committed  or discovered within 60 days of scheduled release.
31    In those cases, the Department of Corrections may  revoke  up
32    to 30 days of good conduct credit. The Board may subsequently
33    approve  the revocation of additional good conduct credit, if
34    the Department seeks to revoke good conduct credit in  excess
 
                            -7-                LRB9203275ARsb
 1    of  30  days.   However,  the Board shall not be empowered to
 2    review the Department's decision with respect to the loss  of
 3    30  days  of good conduct credit within any calendar year for
 4    any prisoner or to increase any  penalty  beyond  the  length
 5    requested by the Department.
 6        The   Director  of  the  Department  of  Corrections,  in
 7    appropriate cases, may restore up to  30  days  good  conduct
 8    credits  which  have  been revoked, suspended or reduced. Any
 9    restoration of good conduct credits  in  excess  of  30  days
10    shall  be  subject  to  review  by the Prisoner Review Board.
11    However, the Board may not restore  good  conduct  credit  in
12    excess of the amount requested by the Director.
13        Nothing  contained  in  this  Section  shall prohibit the
14    Prisoner Review Board  from  ordering,  pursuant  to  Section
15    3-3-9(a)(3)(i)(B),  that  a  prisoner serve up to one year of
16    the sentence imposed by the court that was not served due  to
17    the accumulation of good conduct credit.
18        (d)  If  a  lawsuit is filed by a prisoner in an Illinois
19    or  federal  court  against  the  State,  the  Department  of
20    Corrections, or the Prisoner Review Board, or against any  of
21    their  officers  or employees, and the court makes a specific
22    finding that a pleading, motion, or other paper filed by  the
23    prisoner  is  frivolous,  the Department of Corrections shall
24    conduct a hearing to revoke up to 180 days  of  good  conduct
25    credit  by bringing charges against the prisoner sought to be
26    deprived of the good  conduct  credits  before  the  Prisoner
27    Review  Board  as  provided in subparagraph (a)(8) of Section
28    3-3-2 of this Code.  If the prisoner has not accumulated  180
29    days  of good conduct credit at the time of the finding, then
30    the Prisoner Review Board may revoke all good conduct  credit
31    accumulated by the prisoner.
32        For purposes of this subsection (d):
33             (1)  "Frivolous"  means  that a pleading, motion, or
34        other filing which purports to be a legal document  filed
 
                            -8-                LRB9203275ARsb
 1        by  a  prisoner in his or her lawsuit meets any or all of
 2        the following criteria:
 3                  (A)  it lacks an arguable basis either  in  law
 4             or in fact;
 5                  (B)  it  is  being  presented  for any improper
 6             purpose, such as to harass or to  cause  unnecessary
 7             delay   or   needless   increase   in  the  cost  of
 8             litigation;
 9                  (C)  the  claims,  defenses,  and  other  legal
10             contentions therein are not  warranted  by  existing
11             law or by a nonfrivolous argument for the extension,
12             modification,  or  reversal  of  existing law or the
13             establishment of new law;
14                  (D)  the   allegations   and   other    factual
15             contentions  do  not have evidentiary support or, if
16             specifically so identified, are not likely  to  have
17             evidentiary  support  after a reasonable opportunity
18             for further investigation or discovery; or
19                  (E)  the denials of factual contentions are not
20             warranted on the evidence,  or  if  specifically  so
21             identified,  are  not  reasonably based on a lack of
22             information or belief.
23             (2)  "Lawsuit" means a petition for  post-conviction
24        relief   under  Article  122  of  the  Code  of  Criminal
25        Procedure of 1963, a motion pursuant to Section 116-3  of
26        the  Code  of Criminal Procedure of 1963, a habeas corpus
27        action under Article X of the Code of Civil Procedure  or
28        under  federal law (28 U.S.C. 2254), a petition for claim
29        under the Court of Claims Act  or  an  action  under  the
30        federal Civil Rights Act (42 U.S.C. 1983).
31        (e)  Nothing  in  this amendatory Act of 1998 affects the
32    validity of Public Act 89-404.
33    (Source: P.A. 90-141,  eff.  1-1-98;  90-505,  eff.  8-19-97;
34    90-592,  eff.  6-19-98;  90-593,  eff.  6-19-98; 90-655, eff.
 
                            -9-                LRB9203275ARsb
 1    7-30-98; 90-740, eff. 1-1-99; 91-121, eff.  7-15-99;  91-357,
 2    eff. 7-29-99.)

 3        Section  99.  Effective date.  This Act takes effect upon
 4    becoming law.

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