HR0876 100TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR0876 LRB100 20984 MST 36630 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, A primary and critical function of counties in the State of Illinois is enforcing laws and administering justice; and

WHEREAS, The costs of enforcing laws and administering justice are paid by the citizens of those counties through property, income, and sales taxes; and

WHEREAS, Counties have become increasingly reliant on fines and fees, including bond fees, to offset these costs; these fines and fees have become unreasonable and disproportionate; and

WHEREAS, These unreasonable and disproportionate fines and fees become excessive obligations placed upon criminal defendants because taxpayers believe that criminal defendants should bear the cost of the criminal justice system, when in fact all people, including taxpayers, benefit from the enforcement of laws and the administration of justice in the county; and

WHEREAS, Excessive criminal justice financial obligations contribute to unnecessary incarceration in county jails due to failures to pay a fine or fee, and unnecessary incarceration results in more unemployment and adds to the burden on taxpayers; and

WHEREAS, Excessive reliance on overly punitive fines and fees encourages law enforcement and corrections decisions to be made on grounds other than public safety while undermining public confidence in the integrity of the criminal justice system; and

WHEREAS, Excessive reliance on excessive criminal justice obligations has a disproportionate and staggering impact on the poor; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDREDTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we urge counties to impose fines and fees, including bond fees, only upon individuals convicted of a criminal offense; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge that fines and fees collected from offenders will only be used to fund programs and services and not to fund offices and salaries; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge counties to find ways to fund court costs, law enforcement, and pay for the administration of criminal justice without any reliance on fines and fees, including bond fees; and be it further

RESOLVED, That when imposing fines and fees, the offender's ability to pay should be taken into account as one factor and arrangements such as discharging financial obligations through payment plans and community service should be offered; and be it further

RESOLVED, That all counties are urged to be fully transparent with regards to the types and amounts of fines and fees they impose, the mechanisms used and the costs involved in collections, and how the money collected is spent.