Welcome to Senator Robert Peters' legislative website
Peters law to bridge gap between mental health crisis and treatment
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SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Robert Peters spearheaded a law that will allow for quicker and more accurate screenings of mental health crises during emergency calls, ensuring those in need receive dedicated trauma-informed care.
“By allowing specialized response teams to intervene in delicate situations, the state will be taking a more direct response to community safety,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “This is about reducing trauma during mental health crises and ensuring those in need are met with informed, empathetic care.”
Peters’ law will ensure Public Safety Answering Points are in compliance with the Community Emergency Services and Support Act – which connects 911 callers with behavioral health crisis care when appropriate. PSAPs are 24/7 call centers, often operated by local government or law enforcement, designed to receive 911 calls and route them to the appropriate emergency services – serving as a primary first-point-of-reception for emergency calls.
Peters’ new law supports victims’ access to justice
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SPRINGFIELD — To address safety gaps and prioritize continuous protection for victims in Illinois’ justice system, State Senator Robert Peters led a law to secure petitioning eligibility for protective orders during criminal proceedings.
“All victims of violence deserve to feel protected in our state’s justice system, and they especially deserve to feel free from further harassment or abuse, which is exactly what this law ensures,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “It is incredibly rare for victims to seek justice through legal avenues, so we must make sure that when victims come forward, we’re prioritizing their dignity and safety.”
Peters’ law builds on the Illinois Domestic Violence Act, which prohibits orders of protection from being denied solely based on the incarceration status of either the petitioner or the respondent, ensuring the logistical timing of incarceration does not outweigh victims’ access to legal protections.
Peters’ law to honor legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., empower young voices in democratic process
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SPRINGFIELD — To fulfill Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.’s vision of ensuring every high school student graduates with both a diploma and voter registration card, State Senator Robert Peters championed a law that recognizes education and civic engagement go hand in hand.
“I worked with a coalition of civic advocates throughout this process who all had one goal: honor the legacy of civil rights pioneer Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., who acted as a towering and unwavering figure of racial and political equity for decades,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “This law does exactly that by ensuring our state’s youth are presented a meaningful opportunity to register to vote before they graduate, in turn keeping Illinois on a path of progress and justice.”
Studies show that people who vote earlier in life are more likely to remain active voters and participants in their communities for decades to come, yet high school students are not automatically provided the resources needed to register once they age into the electorate.
Peters’ law ensuring equal justice in public defense system to take effect
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SPRINGFIELD — State Senator Robert Peters’ law creating the Office of the State Public Defender, an independent office under the state’s Judicial Branch – marking one of the most substantial reforms of Illinois’ public defense system since 1949 – goes into effect July 1.
“When I worked to get this law over the finish line last spring, it was with the knowledge that Illinois not only has disparities in its justice system, but also that we have a duty to reduce them,” said Peters (D-Chicago). “There are too many instances where someone is punished with a harsher sentence or a wrongful conviction, and this law is going to directly mitigate that harm in our communities and preserve residents’ constitutional right to counsel.”
A state public defender is a government-employed lawyer who provides legal representation to individuals accused or convicted of crimes who cannot afford to hire their own attorney. Public defender offices are one of three methods through which states and localities ensure defendants are granted the 6th and 14th Amendments right to counsel.
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Welcome
Dear Friends,
Thank you for visiting my legislative website. It is my honor to serve the citizens of the 13th Senate District in the Illinois General Assembly. On this website, you can learn a little bit about me, my record in the General Assembly, and the services I can provide you.
I always welcome feedback from my constituents, so if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Robert Peters
State Senator, 13th District
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Contact Us
District Office:
1304 E. 47th St., Suite 205
Chicago, IL 60653
(773) 363-1996
Text:
(773) 830-2598
Springfield Office:
635 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-5338