HR1069LRB098 21143 RLC 59003 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, Too many minor offenders, especially drug 
3offenders, are  sentenced to terms of imprisonment in county 
4jails and the Department of Corrections; and
  
 
5    WHEREAS, Many offenders are sentenced to imprisonment for 
6possession of small quantities of controlled substances; and
  
 
7    WHEREAS, These sentences disproportionally impact the poor 
8and disadvantaged; and
  
 
9    WHEREAS,  The costs of incarceration exceed the costs of 
10home confinement and treatment; and
 
11    WHEREAS,  Confinement of these offenders in jail or the 
12Department of Corrections  diverts resources that should be 
13devoted to protecting the public from violent offenders; and
 
14    WHEREAS, Attitudes toward drug addiction have changed over 
15the years; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, Drug addiction is as much a medical problem as a 
17criminal justice issue; and
  
 
18    WHEREAS, Treatment is a preferred disposition to jail time 
 
 
HR1069- 2 -LRB098 21143 RLC 59003 r

1for persons convicted of possession of small  quantities of 
2controlled substances; and
  
 
3    WHEREAS, We urge prosecutors and judges to consider home 
4confinement to jail time for these low level drug offenders; 
5therefore, be it
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
7NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
8we urge the Governor and the Department of Corrections to 
9discourage prosecutors from recommending and judges from 
10sentencing low level drug offenders to the county jail or the 
11Department of Corrections; and be it further
  
 
12    RESOLVED, That we urge the Governor and the Director  of 
13Corrections to do everything in their power to have low level 
14drug offenders currently serving sentences in  Department of 
15Corrections facilities released to home confinement; and be it 
16further
  
 
17    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be

18delivered to the Governor and to the Director of
Corrections.