Public Safety

Springfield, Illinois —Legislation sponsored by Illinois State Senator Tony Munoz (D-Chicago) will strengthen the penalties for gang members who possess firearms on public streets.  This initiative aims to reduce firearm violence caused by street gang members.

SPRINGFIELD, IL – State Senator Emil Jones III (D - 14th District) provided testimony in front of the Senate Executive Committee today to discuss comprehensive legislation that will greatly improve the regulation and oversight of cemeteries in Illinois. The subject matter hearing was called at Sen. Jones’ request to begin moving the legislation forward.

SPRINGFIELD, IL — With area schools taking part in International Walk to School Day this month, State Senator Michael Bond (D – Grayslake) is encouraging local school officials to take advantage of a new law giving them greater flexibility to fund school safety initiatives such as the Safe Routes to School program.

Elgin, IL –State Senator Michael Noland (D-Elgin) recently announced that legislation to strengthen existing stalking laws was signed into law by Governor Pat Quinn. The new law will allow courts to issue stalking protective orders to further protect people from being stalked.

Previously, the only way a stalking protection order could be obtained was if an attack had already occurred or the person had a domestic relationship with the stalker. The new legislation, House Bill 693, makes it easier for victims to protect themselves.

“This new law is designed to prevent stalkers before the actual crime of stalking begins,” said Senator Noland. “By allowing victims to obtain an order of protection early on from their predators, the problem may be resolved before it reaches that next level.”

The new law increases the penalties for violating a stalking protective order to 364 days in jail and a fine of up to $2,500. A second subsequent violation would be considered a Class 4 felony, resulting in anywhere from 1-3 years in jail and a fine of up to $25,000. 

“We don’t want the citizens of Illinois to feel afraid, and then feel as though their fear isn’t enough for us to want to protect them – this legislation should provide a blanket of comfort to those who have to deal with these issues,” Noland said.

SPRINGFIELD, IL—Illinois State Senator William Delgado (D-Chicago) will be joined by his fellow colleagues to discuss crime reduction in Illinois and how our state compares to others across the nation.

“I will be participating in the panel discussing The Illinois Crime Reduction Act: A Data-Driven, Best-Practices Approach to Crime Reduction,” said Delgado, Chairman of the Senate Public Health Committee.  “As a former felony parole and probation officer, this is a subject that I am very familiar with.”

ELGIN – Sen. Michael Noland (D-Elgin) was honored today by the Outdoor Amusement Business Association (OABA) for his work on legislation in Springfield that would make it easier for carnival owners to do background checks on their workers and enhance ride safety.

CHICAGO, IL – Governor Pat Quinn recently signed into law legislation sponsored by State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) that will relieve the burden of drug court costs for Illinois counties.

House Bill 3795 allows two or more counties within the same judicial circuit court to join together and form a single drug court program. This initiative helps counties that have low case loads reduce their financial burden by sharing costs with neighboring counties. It also authorizes counties with drug courts to impose a $5 fee on Criminal Code and Vehicle Code convictions in order to raise revenue to support the drug court program.

House Bill 2542, an initiative of Attorney General Lisa Madigan, effectively strengthens Illinois stalking and cyberstalking laws to better protect victims of web-based stalking crimes. Senator Toi Hutchinson and Representatives Karen Yarbrough and Fred Crespo worked with Attorney General Madigan to pass the proposal through the legislature.