Black Caucus Expecting Vote This Week on Police Reform Legislation
A Woodford County Sheriff’s Deputy speaks to a motorist while contacting a traffic stop in 2019. Black legislators are hoping to pass legislation this week vastly reforming the way policing in the state is done.
A controversial criminal justice bill pushed by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus could get a vote in the Senate as early as Monday.
“Criminal justice reform cannot wait,” said Rep. Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago). “It must not wait.”
The 611-page bill wasn’t made public until last week and multiple hearings over the weekend in Springfield brought opposition from law enforcement, sheriffs, police unions, and some prosecutors.
Many argue the process has been rushed, even though the Senate sponsor, Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) says a joint Senate and House committee heard 30 hours of testimony over the summer.
“We can no longer delay, distract, or deny the damage that is being caused to our communities,” said Sims. “I don’t say [this] to demonize nor vilify law enforcement. This is about ensuring that we have a criminal justice system that works for everyone, no matter where you live, what you look like, or what your ZIP code is.”
A message to members this weekend from Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police Executive Director Ed Wojcicki derided the legislation.
“This is one of the most anti-police bills ever drafted by the Illinois General Assembly,” he wrote. “It is also very bad for local governments, which could be stripped of additional funds at a time when funding already is in crisis.”
The bill cuts municipal funding if local departments don’t phase in body cameras on all officers.
The Illinois Sheriffs' Association has dubbed the proposal the “Defund the Police Bill.”
“This is about rooting out bad policing and racist policing,” Rep. Slaughter said. “We know that oftentimes the disciplinary process is manipulated to do just that.”
Sims says some parts of the proposal may be edited or pushed back, including how to handle the state’s cash bond system. Some advocate for a system like federal courts where a judge decides whether a defendant stays in custody or not. The current legislation requires discovery, a hearing, and a specific threat to hold someone while they await trial.”
Sims says while the bill will likely still get tweaks, it can’t wait.
“We need a criminal justice system that works for everyone.,” he said. “[One] that treats everyone equitably and fairly, and we do not have that system right now.”