mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:11 PM Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:11 PM Representative Zalewski opens the meeting and passes the mic to Senator NolandThe Senator explains that each of the members has expectations - one of his being to develop legislation to address efficiency and fairness in criminal justice, but also to develop a process to create the existence of an ongoing council that will make observations and recommendations going ahead. Says "we politicians have never lost any votes by being tough on crime. We educate, we medicate and we incarcerate." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:12 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:12 PM Representative Reboletti welcomes those in attendance on those watching on the internet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:17 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:17 PM Additional testimony will be taken at some point in the future. A representative of the Illinois Department of Corrections opens, and explains the current makeup of the prison population and problems associated with over crowding. Explains the "truth in sentencing" requires 75%/85% time served, adding to the problem. He further speaks to ideas leading to population reductions, including specific ideas addressing Class 3 and Class 4 (felonies) and truth in sentencing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:27 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:27 PM Senator Noland asks, of the DOC population, what percent is non-violent. The DOC representative says its difficult to answer but says "at the very least probably 35% of the individuals locked are are nonviolent". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:28 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:28 PM Representative Sullivan asks what are the 3's and 4's (class 3 and Class 4 Felonies) in the system now that can be reduced with the least risk to society (paraphrased) In answer: #1 - drugs #2 - guns #3 - ? #4 - theft Adds that the judges are better equipped to determine if someone goes in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:39 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:39 PM Discussion continues regarding cost per inmate, numbers of elderly inmates, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:40 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:40 PM In regard to Representative Turner's question, it is stated that most of the elderly inmates are nonviolent. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:47 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 07:47 PM I'm away for a few minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:15 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:15 PM I've been away too long to have kept track of testimony. There was interesting discussion of the motives behind carrying a gun, with differences being noted between carrying with violent intent and carrying for self defense, but I couldn't get details. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:20 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:20 PM The current speaker states that we can all agree we should not be spending the currents amounts on incarceration. She states that incarceration is not such a great deterrent, and is not a great rehabilitator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:25 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:25 PM She continues her testimony with the observation that our truth in sentencing laws passed in 1987 were based on using federal funds to build prisons that were never built, but our current practices are still based upon the assumptions made about additional prison space. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:31 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:31 PM Representative Dunkin: Garry McCarthy has no clue how to approach this, so he comes to us with mandatory minimum sentencing. The representative is glad to see the approach the committee is taking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:36 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:36 PM Mr Dunkin: What would be the hurdles to a msssive change in our criminal justice system? Answer; How we address violent versus nonviolent crime. Twenty five years ago we looked at offender characteristics. As we've gotten more punitive, we've gotten away from offender characteristics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spec5 Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:36 PM Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:36 PM Representative Dunkin: Garry McCarthy has no clue how to approach this, so he comes to us with mandatory minimum sentencing. The representative is glad to see the approach the committee is taking. I heard that too and couldn't believe it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:40 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:40 PM Representative Dunkin: One thing we been doing consistently is over incarcerating, incarcerating nonviolent offenders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:42 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:42 PM Representative Dunkin: Garry McCarthy has no clue how to approach this, so he comes to us with mandatory minimum sentencing. The representative is glad to see the approach the committee is taking.I heard that too and couldn't believe it. It gives me so much hope that real solutions might finally be found, or at least looked for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spec5 Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:50 PM Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:50 PM Representative Dunkin: Garry McCarthy has no clue how to approach this, so he comes to us with mandatory minimum sentencing. The representative is glad to see the approach the committee is taking.I heard that too and couldn't believe it.It gives me so much hope that real solutions might finally be found, or at least looked for.Refreshing at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:55 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 08:55 PM Representative Reboletti asks about "certainty in sentencing", alluding to differences in the way counties handle probation. In answer, "Cathy" (the wise speaker of the day) states that research tells them that nonviolent offenders can be handled in better ways than longer sentences. Mr. Reboletti continues to push for agreement on some sort of mandatory sentencing, while Cathy feels that local jurisdictions know their populations best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 09:26 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 09:26 PM The "Cathy" previously referred to is Kathy Saltmarsh, Executive Director of SPAC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mauserme Posted July 15, 2014 at 10:10 PM Author Share Posted July 15, 2014 at 10:10 PM The hearing has concluded and, I have to say, it was very different from my expectations. I encourage everyone to watch the archived video at BlueRoomStream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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