Stop unproven, regressive and unfair #BadBillsUpdate: 5/21/14 An amendment in the House has been filed for SB2339 (HCA1), the only thing taken out was presumptive detention for minors charged with possession of a stolen motor vehicle (PSMV). The rest of the bill is intact which means more young people will still be charged with a felony and can be convicted to years in prison with no evidence for a crime that used to be a misdemeanor. Also the bill still impacts passengers and ANY presumptive detention especially for minors is arguably a violation of young people's constitutional rights. Don't let Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Supt Johnson sacrifice the future, well-being and safety of young people just to appear tough on crime for the next election cycle. Original Text: #BadBills drafted and pushed with Mayor Emanuel's clout like SB2339 SFA#2 are created so that politicians can appear tough-on-crime for the next election cycle. This bill is horrible public policy and the damage can be measured in extremely negative outcomes for young people and our communities. The two major issues w/ SB2339 SFA#2:
SB2339 is designed specifically to put more young people in detention for longer -- juvenile detention and incarceration are already an unproven, regressive and unfair non-solution to crime. Detention no matter the length of time is very disruptive and harmful especially to young people. According to one study juvenile incarceration lowers high school graduation rates by 13 percentage points and increases adult incarceration by 23 percentage points (source). Detention is not a solution, roughly 70 percent of previously detained youth are rearrested within two years (source). Also, prior incarceration was a greater predictor of recidivism than carrying a weapon, gang membership, or poor parental relationship (source). #BadBills like SB2339 will make detention a prerequisite to access services or treatment for young people. The policy focus should be on properly investing in evidence-based solutions like community-based interventions that focus on positive youth development (source). Let your representatives in the State House know that now is not the time to backslide on the tremendous progress that Illinois has made with respect to juvenile justice reforms. Want to read more about this issue?
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Action Alert
Take 30 seconds to file a new witness slip to OPPOSE SB2339-HCA1 TODAY to stop Rahm and opportunist politicians from locking up young people so they can appear "tough-on-crime". Directions SECTION 1: IDENTIFICATION Fill it out with your info. Not filling it out for work? (Agency: None, Title: Self) SECTION 2: REPRESENTATION If not filling on behalf of an organization, simply put “SELF” SECTION 3: POSITION Select “O P P O N E N T” SECTION 4: TESTIMONY Select “Record of Appearance Only” LAST STEP: Click “Agree” to the “Terms of Agreement” Witness slips recorded before the meeting are read out-loud before a bill is discussed. This is a simple action that'll make an impact if enough people participate. The next committee meeting is this Wednesday, 5/23 at 11AM Got another few minutes to spare? Call these reps today and tell them NO on SB2339-HCA1
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Take Action Today
Write to your RepClick here to write to your IL Rep today to ask that they oppose SB2339-HCA1 - the form loads your representative's information to make things as easy as possible!
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Fill out a Witness SlipOppose SB2339-HCA1 by filling out
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