Rauner Appoints Commission on Criminal Justice & Sentencing Reform

A press release from Governor Bruce Rauner:

Governor names members of Criminal Justice Reform Commission

SPRINGFIELD – Governor Bruce Rauner announced today the members of the newly created Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform. The commission is made of up experts from various fields within the criminal justice system and state legislators. It will be led by Rodger Heaton, the Governor’s Public Safety Director.

The commission will analyze all aspects of the criminal justice system from the initial arrest to re-entry into the community. It will look for evidenced-based strategies to reduce the rate of imprisonment, while preserving the public’s safety.

Bruce Rauner

Bruce Rauner

“The current prison system is costly, overcrowded and ineffective,” Gov. Rauner said. “We need to reform the system to stop the costly and vicious cycle of recidivism and help those who’ve left prison get the help they need to become productive members of society. This will ultimately save taxpayers money and protect the safety of the public.”

Members of the Illinois State Commission on Criminal Justice and Sentencing Reform are as follows:

  • Chairman: Rodger Heaton – Public Safety Director & Homeland Security Advisor, Office of the Governor
  • Vice Chairman: Jason Barclay – General Counsel, Office of the Governor
  • Kathryn T. Bocanegra – Director of Violence Prevention, Enlace Chicago
  • Jerry Butler – Vice President of Community Corrections, Safer Foundation
  • Brendan Kelley – State’s Attorney, St. Clair County
  • Andrew D. Leipold – Edwin M. Adams Professor of Law, University of Illinois
  • John Maki – Executive Director, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
  • Douglas B. Marlowe – Chief of Science, Law & Policy, National Association of Drug Court Professionals
  • David E. Olson – Professor of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Loyola University
  • Michael J. Pelletier – Illinois Appellate Defender
  • Elena Quintana – Executive Director, Institute for Public Safety – Adler University
  • Elizabeth Robb – (Ret.) Chief Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit
  • Pamela F. Rodriguez – President and CEO, Treatment Alternatives for Safe Communities
  • Kathryn Saltmarsh – Executive Director, Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council
  • Stephen G. Sawyer – Director of Specialty Courts, 2nd Judicial Circuit & (Ret.) Chief Judge
  • Michael Connelly – State Senator
  • Karen McConnaughay – State Senator
  • Michael Noland – State Senator
  • Kwame Raoul – State Senator
  • Scott Drury – State Representative
  • Elgie R. Sims, Jr. – State Representative
  • Brian W. Stewart – State Representative
  • John M. Cabello – State Representative
  • Director, Illinois Department of Corrections
  • Howard A. Peters III– Former Director, Illinois Department of Corrections
  • Greg Sullivan – Executive Director, Illinois Sheriffs’ Association
  • Gladyse C. Taylor – Assistant Director, Illinois Department of Corrections
  • Michael J. Tardy – Director, Administrative Office of the Illinois Courts

Staff:

  • Samantha A. Gaddy – Public Safety Policy Advisor, Office of the Governor
  • Zafreen Farishta – Public Safety Dunn Fellow, Office of the Governor

Comments

Rauner Appoints Commission on Criminal Justice & Sentencing Reform — 3 Comments

  1. Reform is needed, but in typical political fashion–the bulk of the representation is from the electorate and academics.

    Although nice to have the ivory tower perspective–reality is what is needed.

    Governor, add more practitioners to the mix to get real reform that has a better chance of standing up and working!

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