Democratic state Rep. Justin Slaughter introduced a new bill in Illinois that would allow more criminals in prison, regardless of the sentence they are serving, to be eligible for parole.
Slaughter, one of the driving forces behind the SAFE-T Act, defended House Bill 2045 on the grounds that making a person serving a life sentence eligible for parole would “increase public safety."
The efforts will indeed help citizens become more productive, positive citizens.
Rep. Slaughter is a member of the Legislative Black Caucus, the group of Illinois legislators that introduced the criminal justice reform package known as the SAFE-T Act. This controversial judicial reform program could be challenged by the Illinois Supreme Court, as the justices have called for the removal of the clause pushing for cashless bail.
Illinois Republicans warn of potential dangers
Republican state Sen. Jason Plummer warned about the dangers of Illinois' criminal justice system letting people who committed heinous crimes out of prison without going through the vetting process and noted that the impact of crime is felt in every community in the state:
I think that we have to make sure that we protect our communities. ... Hopefully we can sit down with all parties and talk through really the dire impact these directions can have on innocent people around Illinois.
Likewise, the other Republican members of the Senate Executive Appointments Committee issued a statement calling for a "fair and transparent" prisoner review board. These statements were offered as a warning for the recent appointment of Donald Shelton as chairman of the board, replacing Edith Crigler:
Over the last several years, [Gov. J.B. Pritzker] has transformed the Prisoner Review Board to fit his weak-on-crime agenda and has allowed several of his appointees to go unvetted and unconfirmed for multiple years. … Fortunately, through persistent pressure by Senate Republicans, changes have started to take place following the bipartisan movement in the Senate to deny several controversial Pritzker appointees. While there is still a long way to go to reform this vital agency, we are encouraged by the recent change and will continue to advocate for a Prisoner Review Board that is just, transparent, puts the victims and their families first, and above all, protects Illinois families and communities.
