Illinois lawmakers have passed a measure to change the language in state law regarding individuals who have committed crimes. The bill, HB 4409, seeks to replace the term “offenders” with “justice-impacted individuals” in the state’s ‘Adult Redeploy Illinois’ program. This program aims to provide rehabilitation for certain individuals instead of sending them to prison.
Senator Robert Peters, who sponsored the legislation, defined a justice-impacted individual as someone affected by the criminal justice system. The bill has faced criticism from some lawmakers, such as State Sen. Steve McClure and State Sen. Terri Bryant, who raised concerns about the cost of changing terminology on government documents.
The bill has passed both the House and the Senate and now awaits Governor J. B. Pritzker’s approval. Critics of the bill, including radio host Jeanne Ives and former candidate Jennifer Korte, have expressed their disapproval of the changes in terminology.
The ‘Adult Redeploy Illinois’ program aims to reduce the prison population by diverting individuals to community-based programs. The program provides funding and assistance to address the underlying causes of crime and incarceration. In fiscal year 2021, over 2,000 individuals were served by the program.
HB 4409 also establishes an oversight board for the ‘Adult Redeploy Illinois’ program, with members from various departments and individuals with firsthand experience in the program. This bill is part of a series of measures introduced by Democrats to reform the justice system in Illinois.
One such controversial law, the SAFE-T Act, eliminated cash bail for certain crimes. Despite concerns raised by State Sen. John Curran and law enforcement officials, the Act went into effect in September 2023. Instead of cash bail, defendants now undergo pretrial detention hearings to determine their release conditions. Please rewrite this sentence.
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