Bill Text: IL SR1001 | 2023-2024 | 103rd General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Declares April 2024 as Second Chance Month in the State of Illinois.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-17 - Referred to Assignments [SR1001 Detail]

Download: Illinois-2023-SR1001-Introduced.html

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SENATE RESOLUTION
2 WHEREAS, America was founded on the promise of new
3beginnings; and
4 WHEREAS, Every year, more than 650,000 people are released
5from State and Federal prisons, some leaving with nothing more
6than a few dollars and a bus ticket to start their new lives;
7in total, over 70 million Americans have a criminal history
8record, potentially making it hard for them to secure a steady
9job, safe housing, affordable health care, a good education,
10or small business loans, all of which are important things to
11have when trying to build a good life; studies demonstrate
12that when these needs are met, not only are formerly
13incarcerated people empowered but crime is prevented and our
14communities are safer; and
15 WHEREAS, That is why, last year, the Biden Administration
16released a comprehensive strategic plan to improve the
17criminal justice system and strengthen public safety,
18including over 100 concrete actions that the Administration is
19taking to boost public safety by improving rehabilitation in
20jails and prisons, helping people rebuild their lives, and
21reducing unnecessary interactions with the criminal justice
22system so police officers can focus on fighting crime; and

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1 WHEREAS, The Biden Administration has also invested nearly
2$1 billion in job training, addiction recovery, and reentry
3services across the country and has expanded access to Pell
4Grants so people can earn a college degree while they are
5incarcerated and can start over with new skills; the
6Administration is also helping formerly incarcerated people
7find good-paying jobs on projects to rebuild America funded by
8the historic infrastructure law and by expanding opportunities
9to serve in the Federal Government; and
10 WHEREAS, At the same time, the Biden Administration has
11taken historic steps to end America's failed approach to
12marijuana; incarceration for marijuana possession alone has
13destroyed too many lives, particularly for Black and Brown
14Americans who have been arrested, prosecuted, and convicted at
15higher rates than other racial and ethnic groups; in 2022,
16President Biden asked the Secretary of Health and Human
17Services Xavier Becerra and Attorney General Merrick Garland
18to start formally reviewing how marijuana is scheduled under
19Federal law; he has issued categorical pardons for people
20convicted for simple marijuana possession and use under
21Federal and D.C. law while urging governors to do the same on
22the State level; it is unethical for a person to be in jail or
23prison for using or possessing marijuana alone; and
24 WHEREAS, Meanwhile, the Biden Administration has made

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1historic investments to expand access to mental health and
2substance use services; and
3 WHEREAS, The Biden Administration has also provided $400
4million to prevent juvenile justice involvement and to make
5these systems more responsive to the needs of youth and over $3
6billion in funding for education programs that provide
7support, services, and interventions to keep students
8positively engaged in their schools and communities; and
9 WHEREAS, By working together to improve the criminal
10justice system, our communities will be safer, stronger, and
11more just; these efforts will make families and communities
12whole and help grow our economy, giving everyone a fair
13chance; therefore, be it
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