Priority Bills Filed for the 2022 Legislative Session

Supported by the LWVLA Criminal Justice Committee

BILL

AUTHOR

SUMMARY

LWVLA

POSITION

REASON

HB

106

SB 294

Rep. Kyle Green

Sen. Katrina Jackson

Eliminates the death penalty.

SUPPORTS

The LWVUS supports abolition of the death penalty. This position was adopted in 2006 in concurrence with a position adopted by the LWV of Illinois.

HB

271

Rep. Jason Hughes

Creates a post-conviction remedy for persons convicted by a non-unanimous jury verdict.

SUPPORTS

This bill would provide retroactive legal relief to more than 1,000 people still incarcerated after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that non-unanimous juries are unconstitutional.

HB

730

Rep. Royce Duplessis

Provides for parole consideration for certain individuals serving sentences of life without parole.

SUPPORTS

The LWVUS believes alternatives to imprisonment should be explored and utilized, taking into consideration the circumstances and nature of the crime. In 2017, LWVUS supported legislation giving judges discretion to reduce JLWOP sentences after 20 years and to allow compassionate release of more people over 60.

HB

745

Rep. Kyle Green

Provides relative to the officer bill of rights with focus on certain legal obstacles to disciplining police officers for misconduct.

SUPPORTS

The LWVUS supports law enforcement reform that targets police misconduct, excessive force, and racial bias in policing.

HB 746

Rep. Royce Duplessis

Abolishes solitary confinement in juvenile facilities.

SUPPORTS

The LWVUS supports policies that promote the well-being and safety of children. Children should never be held in solitary confinement except as a temporary response to behavior that poses a serious and immediate threat of physical harm to the juvenile or others. The LWVUS supports legislation that would ban juvenile solitary confinement in the federal system.