From the Desk of John McLees:
The attached update notes some upcoming events and some excellent additional electronic newsletters that you may want to check out.
It focuses on the growing number of bills, now more than 50, that are being considered by the Illinois Legislature, which would make significant improvements in our criminal justice system.
Use the links noted in the update – http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/default.asp and http://myreps.datamade.us/ – to learn more about details and status of the bills and to identify your Representatives and Senators in order to make your input on these important proposals during the current very compact legislative session.
The update also continues to feature volunteer opportunities and a growing library of resources for learning about how change needs to happen and how it is beginning to happen in pretrial procedures, in diversion from prosecution, in the definition of penalties for crimes and administrative infractions, in the use of prison time for rehabilitation instead of crime training, and in supporting those released from prison both to improve lives and to reduce recidivism, with its costs in treasure and in the suffering of additional victims.
Thank you as always for your interest and for all of your efforts to improve our system of justice and to let others know of the resources available to them in learning and in getting involved, including those mentioned in the attachment and at the website https://incarcerationreform.com/.