Thank you for visiting my website. As the state senator for the 43rd District, I have continuously worked on legislation that directly affects our communities. Many issues concern our area including criminal justice reform, which led me to compile my key thoughts on this topic, read on to learn more.

I believe in providing opportunities for people to improve their prospects for successful reintegration into society, which is why I pride myself on being one of the first elected officials in the United States to offer an internship to an incarcerated person.

Since the start of this program, we have expanded to include additional interns from Stateville Correctional Facility, as well as incarcerated youth from the Department of Juvenile Justice by giving them the opportunity to help with research and advance legislative ideas. This innovative program now extends to allow either a Senator or Representative to conduct interviews at Stateville prison, selecting a few individuals to serve as legislative interns for a semester. Upon completion of the program, participants receive a grade from the legislator and earn college credits for their involvement.

I have taken a strong and clear stance in support of the historic end to cash bail and all of the components of the Pretrial Fairness Act in addition to the internship program. I have used my voice to advocate for full implementation of the law, urging State’s Attorney Glasgow to comply after his office contested it in court.

Moreover, I have spearheaded legislation aimed at improving and reforming our criminal justice system. Notably:

• Stop Deceptive Tactics (HB 3253): Protects individuals with severe or profound intellectual disabilities from coercive interrogations and deceptive practices in legal proceedings.
• Notice of Work Release (HB 3779): Streamlines the process for nonviolent offenders entering a work release facility, who are eligible for home confinement or other forms of confinement outside of D.O.C facilities.
• Digitize Prisoner Records (SB 422): Mandates the Illinois Department of Corrections to digitize all master record files, improving efficiency and accessibility of prisoner records.

In progress are initiatives to safeguard housing rights for system-affected individuals, including SB1441 and SB2818. These bills aim to prevent discrimination based on conviction records in real estate transactions. They prohibit inquiries into conviction records before offering property, refusing transactions, and retracting offers based on such records. Removing barriers to housing creates opportunities for rehabilitation, stability, and lower rates of recidivism, as individuals with access to safe and stable housing are more likely to secure employment, support their families, and contribute positively to their communities. This not only improves the lives of those directly affected, but also fosters a more inclusive and equitable environment for everyone.

Furthermore, it is crucial to ensure that sentencing reflects the actual truth, and arbitrary factors that add time to sentences are removed. This is why I sponsored Senate Bill 2783. This bill aims to eliminate punitive deterrence, which allows judges to increase an individual’s sentence if it is believed it will deter others from committing similar offenses in the future. However, this approach proves ineffective, as the majority of individuals—excluding prosecutors, lawyers, and judges—lack awareness of the sanctions associated with specific crimes. By removing punitive deterrence, we strive for a more equitable and just legal system that focuses on rehabilitation and fairness for all.