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Peters celebrates ending cash bail as criminal justice package moves to House

Details
Category: Senator Robert Peters News
Wednesday, January 13, 2021 05:07 AM
  • Peters
  • Cash Bail
  • ILBC
  • Pretrial Fairness Act
  • SB4025
  • HB3653

Sen. Robert Peters

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Senate passed a sweeping criminal justice reform package Sunday as part of a larger plan authored by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus to rid Illinois of systemic racism. The package included the elimination of cash bail, an issue for which State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) has been fighting for years.

“For too long, people in this state have spent time in jail only because they could not afford to pay their bail,” said Peters, who was recently elected Chair of the Senate Black Caucus. “The end of that practice is near. I’m thrilled that ending cash bail was part of the package we passed today, and I look forward to similar action from the House.”

Earlier this year, Peters filed Senate Bill 4025, known as the Pretrial Fairness Act, which was then folded into the criminal justice reform package. This portion of the bill eliminates cash bail as an option for pretrial detention and provides a presumption of pretrial release for all criminal defendants. The court retains the right to deny release under certain circumstances, pending the outcome of a hearing.

Read more: Peters celebrates ending cash bail as criminal justice package moves to House

Peters outlines goals as new Senate Black Caucus Chair

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Category: Senator Robert Peters News
Friday, December 04, 2020 10:16 AM
  • Peters
  • Senate Black Caucus

peters 031020CHICAGO – At a meeting of the Illinois Senate Black Caucus earlier this week, State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) was unanimously elected by his colleagues as the new caucus chair.

“I am honored and humbled to have been elected by my colleagues as the new chair of the Senate Black Caucus, and I want to thank them for trusting me with this important position,” Peters said. “The list of issues facing Black communities in our state is long and relentless, and I am excited to lead our caucus as we fight to win real safety and justice.”

Peters takes over as chair following a tumultuous summer, during which the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others by police sparked a nationwide movement of protests against police brutality and systemic racism.

Read more: Peters outlines goals as new Senate Black Caucus Chair

Peters congratulates local museums for project grants

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Category: Senator Robert Peters News
Friday, November 20, 2020 03:27 PM
  • Rebuild Illinois
  • Peters
  • IDNR
  • Public Museum Capital Grants

field museum 112020CHICAGO – State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) congratulated several museums in the 13th Senate District on receiving grants from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources earlier this week, part of a push to ensure these important local resources stay afloat during the ongoing pandemic.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has put an economic strain on a lot of us, and museums are no exception,” Peters said. “These institutions are some of the most important cultural and educational centers of community, and it’s great to hear they’ll be getting funding that will ease a financial burden and allow them to make some improvements.”

Read more: Peters congratulates local museums for project grants

Peters: ACA open enrollment more important now than ever

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Category: Senator Robert Peters News
Thursday, November 19, 2020 04:55 PM
  • Health Care
  • Peters
  • Affordable Care Act
Get Covered ILCHICAGO – With the enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act marketplace open now until Dec. 15, State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) is encouraging Illinois residents to apply and stressing the importance of health insurance during these unprecedented times.
“We are currently in the middle of a global health pandemic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which means that quality health care is more important now than ever,” Peters said. “The Affordable Care Act will allow Illinois residents who are underinsured or uninsured to receive the health care they need to survive a public health crisis, and I encourage everyone who requires it to apply.”

Read more: Peters: ACA open enrollment more important now than ever

Peters moves to end cash bail

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Category: Senator Robert Peters News
Monday, November 09, 2020 11:17 AM
  • Peters
  • Pretrial Fairness Act
  • End Cash Bail
  • SB 4025

peters 022620SPRINGFIELD – In the wake of months-long nationwide protests against police brutality and misconduct, State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) took the first step toward reforming the criminal justice system last week by filing the Pretrial Fairness Act, which would end cash bail in Illinois.

“For many people, the definition of ‘criminal justice’ ends at the point of arrest, but it’s important to realize the true size of the entire system,” Peters said. “The reality is that the criminal justice system is large, wide reaching, and full of systemic injustice from top to bottom. The hope is that the Pretrial Fairness Act will be the first in a long series of reforms to reshape the system that has destroyed so many families.”

Read more: Peters moves to end cash bail

State lawmakers continue police reform discussions in hearing prompted by Black Caucus

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Category: Senator Robert Peters News
Thursday, November 05, 2020 09:11 AM
  • Sims
  • Peters
  • Legislative Black Caucus
  • Bail and Police Reform

police reform 110520

CHICAGO — State legislators will continue their discussion on police reform during Thursday’s joint hearing of the Senate Criminal Law Committee and Senate Special Committee on Public Safety.

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

Discussions at the hearing will focus on the Uniform Peace Officers' Disciplinary Act, qualified immunity and officer liability.

It will be the eighth criminal justice reform hearing called by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. Criminal justice reform is one of four pillars the caucus is using to guide their agenda to address systemic racism. The pillars 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

To watch the virtual committee, visit https://ilga.gov/senateaudvid.asp and click "Watch Live Virtual Committee Video." The link will become available when proceedings begin.

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

What: Joint hearing on police reform

When: 1 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5

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

Blue Room Stream, a subscription-based service, will also stream the hearing at https://livestream.com/blueroomstream/events/9326370.

Peters grateful for grant funding support of local businesses

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Category: Senator Robert Peters News
Friday, October 30, 2020 01:32 PM
  • DCEO
  • Peters
  • COVID-19
  • Business Interruption Grants

Empty cafe

CHICAGO – In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis it created, a second round of Business Interruption Grants from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity have begun to be distributed. State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago) expressed gratitude for the support given to local restaurants small businesses.

“This has been an unprecedented several few months in our world that has affected everyone, and local restaurants and small businesses have really stepped up to try to retain some sense of normalcy during all the uncertainty,” Peters said. “Many have done so at personal financial cost, which was only made worse by the economic downturn the COVID-19 pandemic brought about. That’s why I’m grateful to see such important local establishments getting a bit of a boost from the BIG grants, and I hope they will use that money to continue providing services and support to our community during these trying times.”

Read more: Peters grateful for grant funding support of local businesses

State lawmakers assess police reform in hearing called by Black Caucus

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Category: Senator Robert Peters News
Wednesday, October 28, 2020 09:06 AM
  • Sims
  • Peters
  • Criminal Justice Reform
  • Legislative Black Caucus

peters sims 102820CHICAGO – Illinois lawmakers examined police reform during Tuesday’s joint hearing of the Senate Criminal Law Committee and Senate Special Committee on Public Safety, the seventh hearing on criminal justice reform prompted by the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus to examine and address systemic racism in the state.

“We must have a system that is more just and equitable for both communities and police,” Senator Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) said. “If a defendant is guilty, they should be held accountable but there should not be a thumb placed on the scale to make someone plead to something that they did not do. That is not justice. We have to make sure that we are holding the right people accountable.”

Read more: State lawmakers assess police reform in hearing called by Black Caucus

More Articles …

  1. State leaders discuss bail and police reform in virtual Senate hearing prompted by Black Caucus
  2. State lawmakers discuss prison reform in fifth criminal justice hearing called by Black Caucus
  3. Black Caucus prompts third joint hearing to address sentencing reform and violence reduction
  4. Peters comments on lack of meaningful charges in "exhausting," "upsetting" Breonna Taylor case
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