PEORIA, IL – A meeting hosted by the League of Women Voters of Greater Peoria will discuss changes in sentencing guidelines, at 6 pm on Thursday, Nov. 3, at the Advanced Medical Transport (AMT) auditorium, 1718 N Sterling, Peoria 61604.

Peoria County States’ Attorney Jerry Brady will present information about many facets of the efforts to change sentencing guidelines.  They include:

• Initiatives currently under consideration from: The Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform; The Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council; and House Bill 6595 which would change penalties for drug crimes (sponsored by Rep. Barbra Flynn Currie.)
• The way sentencing changes become law in Illinois and get implemented.
• Who benefits from changes to sentencing guidelines, and whether changes will affect public safety.

• The biggest existing sentencing problems that should be studied or changed.

• How prosecutors, public defenders, law enforcement, county detention, and the courts will respond to changes.
• The possibility that sentencing changes may:
  •  put more offenders in county jails, in lieu of prison because of shorter sentences which could be considered a cost shift from the state to a county.
  • require more parole officers, and whether the state would pay for this extra work.

The position of League of Women Voters of the US on sentencing policies is that  alternatives to imprisonment should be explored and utilized, taking into consideration the circumstances and nature of the crime. The LWVUS opposes mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses.

The event is free and open to the public. Press coverage is welcome.

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