FELONY MURDER | SB 1788
FELONY MURDER
SB 2078/HB 3381
Illinois’ felony murder rule allows individuals to be convicted of first-degree murder even if they did not cause or intend harm. Accomplices—such as lookouts or getaway drivers—are sentenced as if they committed the killing, leading to excessively harsh punishments that fail to account for individual culpability. This outdated law disproportionately impacts young people and marginalized communities, trapping them in a cycle of over-incarceration while costing the state millions in unnecessary prison expenditures.
SB 1788 ensures fair sentencing by removing felony murder from the first-degree murder statute and reclassifying it as second-degree murder. This reform allows prosecutors to distinguish between those who caused harm and those who played a minor role, ensuring that sentences reflect actual culpability. By modernizing Illinois’ legal system to align with national trends, SB 1788 reduces excessive incarceration, promotes justice, and saves taxpayer money.
LEARN MOREREAD BILLTAKE ACTIONMANDATORY SUPERVISED RELEASE | SB 1785
MANDATORY SUPERVISED RELEASE
SB 2077/HB 3378
Illinois’ Mandatory Supervised Release (MSR) system is overburdened and ineffective, keeping thousands of individuals under supervision for longer than necessary. In 2022 alone, the Prisoner Review Board (PRB) received 5,000 early discharge requests but reviewed less than half of them, leaving thousands in limbo. The lack of a clear process for early discharge leads to unnecessary supervision, making it harder for individuals to secure stable housing and employment while costing the state millions in correctional resources.
SB 1785 creates a fair and transparent system by extending Day-for-Day Good Conduct Credit (GCC) to individuals on MSR, allowing them to reduce their supervision terms through compliance. By incentivizing good behavior and ensuring that individuals who meet their requirements can reintegrate sooner, this bill addresses inefficiencies in the current system, saves taxpayer dollars, and focuses supervision resources on those who truly need them.
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MEDICAL RELEASE | SB 179/HB 1245
MANDATORY SUPERVISED RELEASE
SB 2077/HB 3378
The Joe Coleman Act Medical Release Act created a lifeline to seriously ill incarcerated people in Illinois. This landmark legislation established for the very first time a compassionate release process allowing terminally ill people to petition the Illinois Prisoner Review Board (PRB) for release under certain circumstances. The act addressed humanitarian concerns by providing an opportunity for those with severe, life-threatening medical conditions to spend their remaining days with dignity, outside prison walls.
SB 179/HB 1245 amends the Joe Coleman Medical Release Act to ensure a fair and transparent process. This bill requires the PRB to publish hearing dates, petitioner information, and decisions while prohibiting the imposition of additional restrictions beyond those outlined in the statute. By requiring decision letters, medical records, and cost data, this legislation strengthens accountability, builds public trust, and ensures that the medical release process operates efficiently and justly.
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