Senator Kwame Raoul News

Legislation would open the door to use of recordings in all felony investigations

State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago 13th) successfully presented to his Senate colleagues a proposal that would expand the recording of police interrogations. Senate Bill 1006, which would allow a videotaped interrogation of a defendant in any felony prosecution to be used as evidence in court, was approved today with no opposition.

“Recorded interrogations serve the cause of justice, both for crime victims and for the accused,” Raoul said. “A recording allows a jury to consider a defendant’s statements to law enforcement; it will also help ensure that police conduct interviews properly, respecting the rights of the accused.”

Under current law, videotapes of custodial interrogations are admissible as evidence if they pertain to a homicide investigation. If the subject of questioning is a lesser felony, under Illinois’ eavesdropping statute the person being interviewed must give permission for the police to videotape the interrogation. In practice, most suspects refuse.

“The Senate took a significant step today toward reducing the number of wrongful convictions in Illinois,” said Emily Miller with the Better Government Association (BGA). “The BGA is proud to stand with Sen. Raoul in support of this critical reform effort.”

“Our eavesdropping laws have resulted in a situation where police stop recording if a suspect is being questioned about a homicide but begins talking about or confessing to another crime,” Raoul said. “Allowing interrogations to be recorded and used as evidence will result in a fairer and more effective criminal justice system.”

Measure allows longer sentences for offenders who organize violent mobs via web

State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago 13th) secured Senate passage yesterday of legislation authorizing longer prison terms for people who use social media and other electronic means to organize violent “flash mobs.”

“To protect the public, law enforcement and criminal justice must keep pace with evolving technology,” Raoul said. “This legislation is one relatively small but important way of recognizing the potential of social media to facilitate violent crime.”

Raoul pointed to recent occurrences on the Magnificent Mile and elsewhere in Chicago when groups of young people used Twitter to coordinate crime sprees involving shoplifting, looting and assault. In another incident, gang members located and shot a young woman after she posted a picture of herself on Facebook.

“Criminal mob actions threaten public safety and discourage tourists, shoppers and hotel guests from spending money in Chicago,” Raoul said. “Because social media sites allow large groups bent on committing crimes to converge quickly and with minimal effort, it makes sense to let judges punish instigators more harshly when they organize mobs online.”

State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-13th) has introduced legislation cracking down on violent “flash mobs” and requiring internet service providers (ISPs) to cooperate with law enforcement to help track down instigators. In recent incidents in Chicago’s Magnificent Mile and in the Loop, large groups of young people shoplifted from retailers and assaulted and robbed passersby. Social networking websites such as Twitter allowed them to coordinate their efforts.

“The ability to coordinate a mob action online gives criminals two key advantages: surprise and large numbers,” Raoul said. “State law can support police efforts by helping them use one of the criminals’ tools — social media — against them.”

Senate Bill 1005 would require ISPs to provide identifying information, including the location from which a tweet or other message was sent, to law enforcement once they show probable cause to believe a mob action has been or is being facilitated via the Internet. ISPs could be fined for failure to comply.

Raoul’s measure also would allow a judge to impose an extended sentence for offenses related to criminal mob activity if the perpetrator used electronic communications to organize the mob.

“Criminal flash mobs discourage tourism and create an environment of fear and uncertainty for businesses,” said Marc Gordon, president of the Illinois Hotel and Lodging Association. “Our hotel members and their guests will sleep easier knowing these criminal acts can be detected and deterred in the planning stage.”

Legislation would extend early voting, grace period voting to the day before an election

State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-13th) proposed letting Illinoisans exercise their early voting and grace period voting options up until the day before an election. He presented the measure, Senate Bill 2212, to the Senate Subcommittee on Election Law, which voted last week to send it to the full Executive Committee for consideration.

"Voting is the keystone of our form of government, and we should find ways to make it easier and more convenient whenever we have the capacity to do so," said Raoul, a champion of voters’ rights who sponsored the Illinois Voting Rights Act of 2011. "I’ve witnessed voter suppression and eight-hour waits at polling places in other states, and here in Illinois I know we can be more progressive about moving toward maximum voter access."

Since 2005, Illinois has offered in-person early voting in addition to absentee voting. Currently, registered voters may go to a county clerk’s office or other designated location any time between fifteen days and three days before the election in order to submit a ballot early.

Grace period voting is an option for people who did not register to vote before the close of the registration period for that election or who moved but failed to change their address with the county election authority. During the grace period, a would-be voter may fill out a registration or change of address form and then vote by mail or in person. Grace period votes are counted once the election authority confirms the voters’ eligibility and residency. The grace period currently extends only to the third day before the election.

“With the technology available today, there’s no reason we can’t allow voters to exercise their right throughout the period leading up to an election,” Raoul said. “Our democracy thrives when everyone who’s eligible to vote has optimal access to the ballot box – why make it needlessly complicated?”

SPRINGFIELD – State Senator Kwame Raoul (D-13th) issued the following statement on the budget plan Gov. Quinn presented to lawmakers today:

This budget cries out for pension reform. We’ve reached the point where the year’s pension payment outweighs the investment we’re making in educating our children. It’s time for a serious conversation, followed by meaningful action, about stopping the runaway pension train.

While realizing that past governmental irresponsibility, not hard-working state employees, caused this fiscal nightmare, we nevertheless must stop the bleeding now. Government’s failure to enact fair but sweeping pension reform is hampering our ability to invest in our future and deliver needed services to the people of this great state.