mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 11:08 AM Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 11:08 AM The third of 3 scheduled hearings on sentencing reform is to start at 10:00 AM today. I have a 10:30 meeting this morning that shouldn't last long. Any help monitoring the committee will be appreciated. Link to Livestream Feed Link to ILGA Stream Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 11:40 AM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 11:40 AM In his ongoing crusade against gun ownership Mayor Emanuel will, according to WGN this morning, lobby the legislature today to decriminalize marijuana in order to free prison space for firearm related offenses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 11:57 AM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 11:57 AM http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140922/BLOGS02/140929974 Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy are scheduled to be the headliners at a legislative hearing on gun violence tomorrow, and the big question is whether they'll throw their weight behind an emerging compromise that some think actually could pass the Illinois General Assembly.... The proposal is to shorten penalties for mere possession of small amounts of illegal drugs while lengthening them for big-time dealing and gun offenses. The idea is to focus resources while allowing minority lawmakers to say they've done something beyond just throwing more young African-American and Hispanic men in jail.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:07 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:07 PM The committee is coming to order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:10 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:10 PM Marc Levin of Right on Crime is asked to comment on what's worked to reduce incarceration rates in other states Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:14 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:14 PM Mr. Levin speaks of reduced sentencing for low level drug offenses, property crimes, etc. In Illinois, he mentions specifically low level class 4 convictions where state custody is very brief, leaving no time to make a difference. He says it's counterproductive - emphasis should shift to counties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:17 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:17 PM Mr. Levin states that it is the swiftness, not the length of punishment that matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:18 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:18 PM "We need to focus on people we're afraid of, not just people we're mad at." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:22 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:22 PM Touching on "gun offenses", people should keep in mind that homicides are down. The legislature already says that these people (violent offenders) have to serve most of their time behind bars. It's important to maintain some discretion. You don't want a one size fits all. Historically, sentences were shorter in Cook County but that's changed. We need to be holistic in addressing "gun violence". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:34 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:34 PM I'm away for a bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hipshot Percussion Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:59 PM Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 03:59 PM Thank you for the updates! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey Posted September 23, 2014 at 04:01 PM Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 04:01 PM If pot possession is no big deal then why go after the dealers? Just legalize it already. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 04:16 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 04:16 PM Did anybody notice if Mayor Emanuel or Superintendent McCarthy spoke on any firearm issues? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 04:21 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 04:21 PM Representative Dunkin asks Mr. Emanuel if he could support a bill without mandatory minmums. Mr. Emanuel says he cannot speak to hypothetical legislation. Mr. Dunkin asserts that they do not work. Mr. Emanuel says he has fought for the Brady bill, fought "gun crime", etc and would like to address the challenges faced by the City. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 04:24 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 04:24 PM In response to Mr. Dunkin's question as to whether the City has hired more officers to address the problem, Mr. Emanuel speaks of officer reassignments, overtime, etc. Mr. Dunkins wnders how much has been spent on overtime. Mr. McCarthy answers $90,000,000 but that it shouldn't be looked at in dollars and cents. Mr. Dunkin states that some look at it differently. That it's taking money from the state that could be used for health care and other programs. Mr. Dunkin wonders why that shouldn't be spent hiring more officers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 04:32 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 04:32 PM Mr. Dunkin asks Mr. Emanuel if the violence was happening in Lincoln Park, Ravenswood, areas that are not a "black or brown community", how would he rate Mr. McCarty's job performance.Mr. Emanuel says Mr. McCarthy is doing a fine job.With an edge on his voice and a finger pointing at Mr. Dunkin, Mr. Emanuel expresses how happy he is to have the Representative's help with Chicago crime.Representative Dunkin is perhaps too congenial to respond in kind regarding Mr. Emanuel's help with state matters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 04:48 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 04:48 PM Representative Nekrtiz asks Mr. Emanuel if he will be providing "data driven" suggestions in regard to his mandatory minimum proposal. He does not answer directly, and is assured by Ms. Nekritz that they will be looking for data driven ideas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:03 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:03 PM After reintroducing Marc Levin, Senator Noland asks him for a policy view regarding mandatory minimums and the "discretion we should allow judges". Mr. Levin reminds him that offenders already serve 85%. He states that there are so many thousands of offenses now that prosecutors choose what to charge, whether to stack, and that works against uniformity in sentencing. He does think there's room for more police discretion. Adds that virtually any offense committed with a gun already carries a mandatory minimum and he sees no need for additional minimums related to guns in Illinois. Senator Noland reiterates that final sentence, seemingly for emphasis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:08 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:08 PM Representative Reboletti asks Mr. Levin about judges giving 2 or 3 chances. Wonders when the "music stops". Mr. Levin suggests that if a judge isn't following the law there out to be a method for a prosecutor to appeal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:10 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:10 PM Senator Noland introduces Christine Hermann, Program Director of the Center for Sentencing and Corrections. She will speak on what's happening in other states. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:12 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:12 PM Ms. Hermann state that the US is number in the world for rates of incarceration, double that of Iran for example. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:15 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:15 PM In regard to mandatory sentencing, in the 1980's and 1990's the US and many states enacted "truth in sentencing" laws. This reflected a consensus the incarceration should be the main method of crime control. There is now a shift in that thinking. Incarceration is our most expensive form of control and is bankrupting us. It isn't justified by other state's experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:17 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:17 PM Putting people in prison actually increases recidivism. One theory is that is because prisons are violent places. People learn how to be violent there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:23 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:23 PM Representative Zalewski asks Ms. Hermann to make Illinois specific recommendations. Mr. Hermann mentions Georgia's increased threshold for felonies, keeping people out of prison. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:26 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:26 PM Ms. Hermann says that she was a prosecutor for many years and it challenger her to recognize what they had been doing was wrong. She says Illinois should follow the evidence, not just do what has always been done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:29 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:29 PM Senator Raoul asks to what extent risk assessment has been used for illegal possession of a firearm. Uses the example of a boy who has done noting wrong but is being threatened by a gang. Wonders about about remiving a judge's discretion. Mr. Hermann does not have specific data but says we must look at the individual, find a way to "get them to a better side". Adds that there are no guarantees, but says we should increase our options. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:30 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:30 PM Senator Raoul asks about "gun court" as a way to approach things on a case by case basis instead of a one size fits all basis. Ms. Hermann agrees that one size fits all does not work. Adds that she has not heard of specialty courts for guns. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:32 PM Author Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:32 PM Senator Raoul inquires about felony enhancement without looking at what that prior conviction was. Ms. Hermann answers that some states have looked at enhancements for prior felony gun convictions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talonap Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:36 PM Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:36 PM In regard to mandatory sentencing, in the 1980's and 1990's the US and many states enacted "truth in sentencing" laws. This reflected a consensus the incarceration should be the main method of crime control. There is now a shift in that thinking. Incarceration is our most expensive form of control and is bankrupting us. It isn't justified by other state's experience. How about bringing back capital punishment? A lot cheaper and no repeat offenders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helpdesk9 Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:38 PM Share Posted September 23, 2014 at 05:38 PM in order to free prison space for firearm related offenses.ROFLMAO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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