HR1081LRB099 20971 RLC 45937 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, Too many minor offenders, especially drug
3offenders, are sentenced to terms of imprisonment in county
4jails and the Department of Corrections; and
 
5    WHEREAS, Many offenders are sentenced to imprisonment for
6possession of small quantities of controlled substances; and
 
7    WHEREAS, These sentences disproportionally impact the poor
8and disadvantaged; and
 
9    WHEREAS, The costs of incarceration exceed the costs of
10home confinement and treatment; and
 
11    WHEREAS, Confinement of these offenders in jail or the
12Department of Corrections diverts resources that should be
13devoted to protecting the public from violent offenders; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Attitudes toward drug addiction have changed over
15the years; and
 
16    WHEREAS, Drug addiction is as much a medical problem as a
17criminal justice issue; and
 
18    WHEREAS, Treatment is a preferred disposition to jail time

 

 

HR1081- 2 -LRB099 20971 RLC 45937 r

1for persons convicted of possession of small quantities of
2controlled substances; and
 
3    WHEREAS, We urge prosecutors and judges to consider home
4confinement to jail time for these low level drug offenders;
5therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
7NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we
8urge the Governor and the Department of Corrections to
9discourage prosecutors from recommending and judges from
10sentencing low level drug offenders to the county jail or the
11Department of Corrections; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That we urge the Governor and the Director of
13Corrections to do everything in their power to have low level
14drug offenders currently serving sentences in Department of
15Corrections facilities released to home confinement; and be it
16further
 
17    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
18delivered to the Governor and to the Director of Corrections.