Abolish Life Without Parole Sentences for Children & Most Emerging Adults 18-20

2023 IMPACT

Public Act 102-1128 (House Bill 1064) builds on the 2019 Youthful Parole Law, which created the first new parole opportunities in Illinois since our state abolished parole in 1978. The most recent law extends parole review to young people sentenced to natural life in prison; this ensures no children 17 and younger can receive a life without parole sentence. This measure makes Illinois the 26th state (plus Washington D.C.) to abolish juvenile life without parole sentences; Illinois’ law also makes our state a leader in sentencing reform by recognizing young people’s brain development and ensuring most people 18-20 are parole-eligible.

Bring Issues to Light For Future Policymaking & Support Families

2022 IMPACT

Public Act 102-1082 requires the Illinois Department of Corrections to publish an annual report on issues being raised by family members. With the annual report, legislators can identify opportunities to address significant concerns in future policymaking. The Illinois General Assembly established the Family Liaison (also called the Point of Contact) in 2021 by unanimously passing Public Act 102-535. This position gives family members someone to call if they are turned away from or mistreated in visiting rooms; people with incarcerated loved ones can share complaints, suggestions, and requests with the Point of Contact to help ensure they are able to communicate with their family members. Now, Public Act 102-1082, will ensure families have additional transparency and accountability by identifying significant areas for improvement. 

General Assembly Unanimously Passes Bill to Support Families

2021 IMPACT

Public Act 102-0535 created a statewide point of contact for families visiting incarcerated loved ones. This point of contact is tasked with receiving complaints, suggestions, and requests from visitors. Before this bill, family members visiting incarcerated loved ones had little to no redress when denied access or treated unfairly. People in visiting rooms had to rely on staff at a particular facility to address conflicts or concerns. These same staff members may have been directly involved in the issue. Public Act 102-0535 gives families someone to call who can investigate complaints and attempt to resolve issues. Families often drive hundreds of miles and spend hundreds of dollars to visit loved ones; this is a huge win to ensure visits are successful.

Created Task Force to Support Retroactive Reform

2021 IMPACT

Governor JB Pritkzer signed Public Act 102-0099 into law on July 15, 2021. This legislation will help guide a conversation about the need for second look opportunities for people who are currently incarcerated. HB 3587 will create the Resentencing Task Force to study innovative ways to reduce Illinois’s prison population. The Task Force will consider ways for incarcerated people, state’s attorneys, the Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), and judges to file resentencing motions to allow someone who previously received a long sentence to be released. The Task Force will be made up of a diverse group of stakeholders, including criminal legal reform advocates. It will submit recommendations to the General Assembly and Governor’s Office by July 1, 2022.

Narrowed Illinois’s Felony-Murder Law

2021 IMPACT

HB 3653, SA 2 – now Public Act 101-0652 – is a comprehensive criminal legal system and policing bill. It includes a change to Illinois’s felony-murder law. Before this bill became law, Illinois had one of the broadest felony-murder laws in the country. Prosecutors charged people with deaths caused by third parties. If someone committed an underlying felony and a death occurred, they could be charged with first-degree murder and receive our state’s harshest punishment, between 20 years and life in prison. Now, under the 2021 law change, people can only be charged with felony murder if they or a co-defendant cause a death during the course of an underlying felony.

First New Parole Opportunities in Illinois Since 1978

2019 IMPACT

HB 531 – now Public Act 100-1182

– creates new parole opportunities for those under 21 coming into the system today with extreme sentences ahead of them—the first new opportunity for parole in this state since the practice was abolished in 1978.  Individuals seeking review will have the right to an attorney and the Prisoner Review Board will be required to consider the hallmark features of youth and subsequent growth when making their determinations.

Visiting Rights Expanded for All Incarcerated People in Illinois

2018 IMPACT

On Friday, August 3, 2018, Governor Bruce Rauner signed HB4741—which had previously been unanimously approved in both the House and the Senate—into law. Now Public Act 100-0677, the law increases the minimum number of visits each incarcerated person in Illinois is allowed, ensuring up to seven visits per month. It also requires that the Illinois Department of Corrections expand the number of unique contacts each incarcerated person is allowed to have on their visiting list to 30 (up from 20) and requires that visitation lists be kept electronically.

In-Person Visiting Rights Bill Signed Into Law

2017 IMPACT

On Friday, August 18, 2017, Governor Bruce Rauner signed HB 2989—which had previously been unanimously approved in both the House and the Senate—into law. Now Public Act 100-0142, the law ensures that individuals incarcerated in Illinois are not deprived in-person visits due to the availability of video visits. The law also mandates that the Illinois Department of Corrections publish the number of in-person visits each incarcerated person is entitled to per week and month, better explain identification requirements for visitors, and post daily any restrictions or denials of visitation for that day and the succeeding 5 calendar days. The legislation, sponsored by Representative Justin Slaughter (D – Chicago), took effect on January 1, 2018.

New Prison Phone Rate Law Takes Effect January 1, 2018

2016 IMPACT

Restore Justice educated policy-makers on high phone rates in Illinois prisons, assisting the efforts of Representative Carol Ammons (D – Champaign) in her effort to pass HB 6200 during the 2016 legislative session. Now Public Act 099-0878, the law caps phone charges at 7 cents per minute, a reduction of almost 50 percent. Restore Justice participated in this effort to ease the financial burden of communications among families with loved ones prison.

Illinois Governor Signs Youth Sentencing Reform Legislation

2015 IMPACT

On July 20th, 2015, Governor Bruce Rauner signed HB2471 into law. Now Public Act 99-0069, the law:

• Eliminates mandatory life-without-parole sentences for youth under 18 at the time of the offense
• Requires judges to consider specific age-related factors in mitigation at the time of sentences
• Gives courts greater discretion in determining sentences for those under the age of 18

Restore Justice Illinois was a strong proponent of this measure. The new law took effect on January 1, 2016.