CHICAGO—State legislators will discuss violence reduction and sentencing reform during a hearing on Tuesday.

State Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago) of the Senate Criminal Law Committee and State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) of the Senate Public Safety Special Committee will co-chair the joint hearing. State Representative Justin Slaughter (D-Chicago) of the House Judiciary-Criminal Law Committee and other members of the committee will also be guests during the virtual hearing.

It will be the third joint Senate Criminal Law Committee and Special Committee on Public Safety hearing prompted by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus’ plans to build an agenda ahead of veto session to help eliminate systemic racism in Illinois. Criminal Justice Reform is the first of the Black Caucus’ four pillars, which are the foundation of their developing agenda. They include:

1. Criminal justice reform, violence reduction and police accountability
2. Education and workforce development
3. Economic access, equity and opportunity
4. Health care and human services

The hearing on Tuesday will discuss violence reduction and sentencing reform in the areas of removing economic bases for driver’s license suspensions, reclassifying misdemeanor offenses to civil offenses, drug penalty reform and parole of elderly people.

Who: Senate Criminal Law Committee and Special Committee on Public Safety

What: Joint hearing on violence reduction and sentencing reform

When: 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 29

Where: Virtual hearing can be viewed here: https://ilga.gov/senateaudvid.asp#

               Blue Room will also stream the hearing for subscribers.