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1		HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION
2		WHEREAS, The Joint Criminal Justice Reform Committee
3		("Committee") was created as a special committee by House Joint
4		Resolution 96 in the 98th General Assembly to examine the
5		Illinois criminal justice system, examine the impact of the
6		current sentencing structure, and discuss strategies for
7		reform; and
8		WHEREAS, The Committee was a bicameral and bipartisan
9		committee composed of members of the Illinois General Assembly
10		that sought input from a wide range of stakeholders within the
11		criminal justice community; and
12		WHEREAS, State and county agencies, advocates, and
13		community organizations engaged the members of the Committee in
14		discussions during public hearings from July of 2014 to
15		December of 2014; and
16		WHEREAS, Discussions that took place during the
17		Committee's hearings highlighted important issues regarding
18		the growth of the adult corrections population, the unique
19		issues presented with respect to juveniles involved in the
20		criminal justice system, the impact that current laws have on
21		Illinois communities and the justice-involved population, and
22		policy changes across the nation that have proven effective in

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1		reducing costs and corrections populations in other states; and
2		WHEREAS, Pursuant to House Joint Resolution 96, the
3		Committee timely submitted a report to the Illinois General
4		Assembly on December 1, 2014; following the Rules of the House
5		of Representatives and the Senate for the 98th General
6		Assembly, the Committee expired upon the adjournment of both
7		chambers; and
8		WHEREAS, The members of the Committee recognize that the
9		6-month period in which the Committee was active could not
10		allow for adequate consideration and understanding of the
11		evidence-based methods that may address some of the issues that
12		were presented to the Committee; and
13		WHEREAS, The members of the Committee remain committed to
14		continuing productive discussions with stakeholders in the
15		criminal justice community in order to develop comprehensive
16		methods that are in the interest of the public safety and the
17		public good of the State; and
18		WHEREAS, The members of the Committee recognize that it is
19		equally important to ensure that it explores avenues to better
20		educate the legislature at-large regarding sentencing
21		policies; therefore, be it

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1		RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
2		NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, THE
3		SENATE CONCURRING HEREIN, that we reconstitute the Joint
4		Criminal Justice Reform Committee to continue to examine the
5		impact of the current sentencing structure, ensure that the
6		enforcement and punishment of crimes does not
7		disproportionately or unfairly affect certain racial, ethnic,
8		or minority groups, and develop solutions to address the issues
9		that exist within the system; and be it further
10		RESOLVED, That the Committee shall consist of 16 members of
11		the General Assembly appointed as follows:
12		(1) 4 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
13		Representatives, one of whom shall serve as
14		co-chairperson;
15		(2) 4 members appointed by the President of the Senate,
16		one of whom shall serve as a co-chairperson;
17		(3) 4 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the
18		House of Representatives; and
19		(4) 4 members appointed by the Minority Leader of the
20		Senate; and be it further
21		RESOLVED, That the Committee shall hold public hearings at
22		the call of the co-chairpersons to receive testimony from the
23		public regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of the
24		Illinois criminal justice system and the impact of the current

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1		sentencing scheme; and be it further
2		RESOLVED, That the Committee shall make recommendations
3		for legislation to the General Assembly no later than April 1,
4		2015.