HR0325 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0325 LRB103 32622 MST 62256 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, The Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act guarantees to crime victims the rights assured by Article I, Section 8.1 of the Illinois Constitution to ensure that crime victims are treated with fairness and respect for their dignity and privacy throughout the criminal justice system, to ensure that crime victims are informed of their rights and have standing to assert their rights in the trial and appellate courts, to establish procedures for enforcement of those rights, and to increase the effectiveness of the criminal justice system by affording certain basic rights and considerations to the witnesses of crime who are essential to prosecution; and

WHEREAS, The Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act guarantees to all crime victims timely notification of all court proceedings; and

WHEREAS, The retail loss prevention report and notice requirements created by Public Act 103-757, the Illinois Integrity, Notification, and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces for Consumers Act, granted non-human victims greater rights than human victims, including the right to seven days' notice of any court proceedings; and

WHEREAS, State's attorneys and victim advocates work diligently, sometimes with insufficient resources, to accomplish the difficult task of effectuating communication with all victims as soon as possible; and

WHEREAS, The judiciary works diligently to dispose of all cases in a timely manner; and

WHEREAS, Cuts to federal Victim of Crime Act funding and requirements created by the SAFE-T Act have placed additional pressures on the judiciary, law enforcement, state's attorneys, and victim advocates; and

WHEREAS, It is impracticable to impose a daily timeframe upon state's attorneys to complete notice in every case; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED THIRD GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we recognize that human victims deserve equal rights to non-human victims regarding the timely notice of proceedings; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge members of the judiciary and law enforcement to prioritize human victims within daily court dockets over corporate/business entities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be delivered to all suitable members of the judiciary.