Illinois governor signs criminal justice reform bill
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WGEM) -- Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has signed into law a controversial criminal justice reform bill.
House Bill 3653 passed in mid-January and has been on Gov. Pritzker's desk waiting to be signed into law. Some of the major reforms include ending cash bail by 2023, limiting use of force by officers, and mandating body cameras by 2025.
“For far too long, the criminal justice system has focused on over-incarceration policies and ignored crime survivors’ public safety priorities – but today, Gov. Pritzker has set Illinois on a course towards a safer and more equitable future,” said Aswad Thomas, managing director of the Alliance for Safety and Justice’s flagship program, Crime Survivors for Safety and Justice. “These reforms are critical to addressing trauma and fostering healthier communities, while focusing on rehabilitative approaches that stop cycles of crime. Gov. Pritzker, the Legislative Black Caucus, and Attorney General Kwame Raoul deserve immense credit for prioritizing crime victims and public safety with this historic legislation.”