Top, from left: Representatives Kam Buckner, Kelly Cassidy, Jennifer Gong-Gershowitz, Edgar Gonzalez Jr, and Will Guzzardi. Bottom, from left: Rita Mayfield, Bob Morgan, Kevin Olickal, Justin Slaughter, and Anne Stava-Murray (Illinois House website)
By Tim Hecke | CWBChicago
CHICAGO — In Illinois, any person twice convicted of murder, criminal sexual assault, aggravated kidnapping, or another Class X felony who is subsequently convicted of one of those crimes a third time risks an automatic life sentence under the state’s habitual criminal statute.
But they won’t have to worry about that anymore if legislation passed out of the Illinois House Judiciary-Criminal Committee on Thursday becomes law. The proposal aims to repeal both the state’s habitual criminal law and the armed habitual criminal law, a separate statute that imposes a sentence of six to 30 years on those convicted of certain firearms charges after at least two high-level felonies.
Rep. Rita Mayfield (60th), sponsor of the bill, told the Center Square it’s a way for the state to save money.
“Basically, to house these individuals as they age, they’re getting sicker and we’re paying for their medical bills. There has to be a balance here, and I am looking out for the taxpayer,” Mayfield said. “Now, if you’ve got somebody like a John Wayne Gacy, lock them up and throw away the key and, I don’t know, bring back the death penalty.”
The bill was on the brink of dying Thursday after a Democrat on the committee, Dave Vella of Rockford, joined the committee’s Republicans in opposition to the bill. The Democratic majority put the hearing on hold until they could round up more members to vote their way, the Center Square reported.
“We do that on a lot of different bills,” Mayfield told the outlet, “it’s just to make sure we’re able to pass a bill and continue conversations … It’s a courtesy.”
Read more here.
Leave a Reply