Criminal Justice Police Accountability Violence Reduction

The criminal justice reform pillar was written to increase public safety for everyone while dismantling the systems that hold Black people back from achieving their full potential, as well as increasing trust between law enforcement and the Black community.

The culmination of nine public hearings and over 30 hours of testimony, it focuses on police accountability, including police training, limits on the use of force, and increased transparency and accountability regarding officer misconduct.

Criminal Justice Reform Pillar Fact Sheet (HB3653)

Comprehensive Criminal Justice Reform Package
Sponsor: Senator Elgie R. Sims, Jr. (D-Chicago)

House Bill 3653 enacts the reforms of the Black Caucus’ Criminal Justice policy pillar, the culmination of nine public hearings during which over 30 hours of testimony was gathered by the General Assembly.

This comprehensive criminal justice reform bill makes significant reforms in the areas of police training in everything from crisis intervention tactics to de-escalation, police accountability, transparency in law enforcement and the rights of detainees and prisoners.

What the bill does:

  • Modernizes sentencing laws.
  • Replaces the cash bail system with a new system that detains all dangerous defendants, regardless of their ability to pay.
  • Institutes certification & decertification system statewide for police officers.
  • Requires the use of body cameras.
  • Reforms crowd control response.
  • Amplifies law enforcement training standards.
  • Prevents destruction of law enforcement misconduct records.
  • Connects substance abuse treatment programs with first responder duties.
  • Increases and improves de-escalation and mental health training for law enforcement.
  • Creates two police misconduct databases for public viewing and transparency.
  • Requires police to develop a plan to protect children during search warrant raids.
  • Empowers the attorney general to investigate deaths occurring in police custody.
  • Addresses officer wellness and mental health awareness and screenings.
  • Bans use of chokeholds and other extreme measures.
  • Establishes statewide use of force standards by 2022.

What it does NOT do:

  • Defund the police.
  • Modify or remove qualified immunity protections for police departments.
  • Change or take away collective bargaining rights.
  • Does not allow those that are charged with a serious offense and are a risk to a person or the community or is a flight risk to be released.
  • Does not prevent a judge from revoking pretrial release.
  • Does not alter prison time for individuals serving time for heinous crimes.

Police Accountability

House Bill 3653 includes a number of measures to increase police transparency and accountability. House Bill 3653:

  • Requires reporting on deaths in police custody.
  • Requires police to provide a predicate offense for resisting arrest. (That is, a reason for why an arrested was occurring in the first place.)
  • Expands police training on use of force and crisis intervention, as well as first aid training.
  • Requires statewide standards and services for officers to receive regular mental health screenings and assistance, while ensuring that counseling and screenings remain confidential.
  • Requires police departments to participate in the FBI’s use of force database and strengthens the requirements for use of deadly force.
  • Prohibits chokeholds by police officers.
  • Imposes upon police a duty to intervene in the excessive use of force by another officer and to render aid when necessary.
  • Enhances whistleblower protections.
  • Extends all restrictions of the use of force that apply to law enforcement officers to bounty hunters as well.
  • Bans the use of certain military equipment and provides guidance on the use of crowd control measures.
  • Requires the maintenance of police misconduct records.
  • Requires the use of body cameras statewide by 2025.
  • Removes the requirement for sworn affidavits for police misconduct complaints.
  • Creates a police decertification process for the commission of certain crimes and conduct.
  • Allows the attorney general to investigate patterns and practices of misconduct within Illinois law enforcement agencies.

Detainee, prisoner, and citizens’ rights

Several measures in HB 3653 are aimed at reforming detainee and prisoner rights, and to ensure Illinois’ criminal justice system is fairer for everyone. Among other things, the bill:

  • Increases services and programming for pregnant prisoners, and requires medical treatment of prisoners and detainees without unreasonable delay.
  • Adds new detainee rights when in police custody including:
    • The right to make three free phone calls within three hours of arrival at the police station.
    • The ability to retrieve phone numbers contained in their cell phone’s contact list prior to the phone being placed in inventory.
    • Requires that an easily seen public notice of these rights be posted in police stations and booking rooms.
    • Requires that the telephone number to the public defender or appointed attorney's office must also be displayed.
    • In the event a person who is in police custody is transferred to a new place of custody, they have the right to again make a phone call.
  • Prohibits people with less than four months on their sentence from being imprisoned and allows them to be diverted to electronic monitoring or another DOC facility or program.
  • Ends “prison gerrymandering,” the practice under current law of counting prisoners toward a jurisdiction’s census count rather than their last known address.
  • Makes changes to streamline the crime victims compensation process.
  • Promotes the use of co-responder models and enhances data collection on mental health crisis response.
  • Codifies that the use of force by police as a punishment or retaliation is prohibited.
  • Creates new requirements in the event police execute no-knock warrants, including that: (1) each participating member is assigned a body worn camera and is following policies and procedures; (2) steps are taken in planning the search to ensure accuracy and plan for children or other vulnerable people on-site; and (3) if an officer becomes aware the search warrant was executed at an address, unit, or apartment different from the location listed on the search warrant, that member will immediately notify a supervisor who will ensure an internal investigation ensues. These requirements are based on Chicago Police Department reforms.

Military Equipment

Bans the purchase and use of certain military equipment by law enforcement, specifically:

  • Tracked armored vehicles
  • Weaponized aircraft, vessels, or vehicles
  • Firearms and ammunition of .50-caliber or higher
  • Grenade launchers
  • Bayonets

Law enforcement agencies must also publish notice of any requests for property from a military equipment surplus program.

Court Reforms

HB 3653 also makes a number of changes that specifically affect how people interact with the courts, in ways that aim to interrupt the cycles of recidivism and incarceration in which many Illinois families find themselves. Among those reforms, House Bill 3653:

  • Replaces the cash bail system with a new system that detains all dangerous defendants, regardless of their ability to pay.
  • Ends the practice of suspending drivers’ licenses for failure to pay.
  • Aligns the eligibility for the Mental Health Court or Veterans and Service members Court with the other specialty courts.
  • Modernizes earned sentence credits, and shortens mandatory supervised release times for certain offenses.
  • Clarifies that the “Felony-murder rule” applies to deaths that happen at the hands of participants in the crime.
  • Modernizes the three strikes rules to comply with recent Supreme Court hearings on age and removes non-violent offenses from counting as the three strikes.
  • Allows the courts to deviate from mandatory minimums and implement alternate sentencing for certain offenses.

Law Enforcement Decertification

Under current law, a law enforcement officer can only lose their certification if they are convicted of or found guilty of a felony offense or certain misdemeanors. HB 3653 expands the list of misdemeanors which would prohibit a person from becoming a law enforcement officer or result in their decertification. This bill:

  • Gives the Illinois Law Enforcement Training Standards Board the discretionary authority to decertify an officer under certain circumstances.
  • Outlines the process for receiving and reviewing violations, notice and hearing requirements, and the appeals process.
  • Applies to all law enforcement agencies, including the State Police.
  • Expands the State Police Merit Board to seven members.
  • Requires officers to complete training verification forms.
  • Implements two new public databases for transparency.

The following are misdemeanors that would result in decertification for police officers, should they be convicted, found guilty, enter a plea of nolo contendere, or be sentenced to supervision, conditional discharge, or first offender provision:

Existing:

  • Criminal Sexual Abuse
  • Indecent Solicitation of a Child
  • Sexual Exploitation of a Child
  • Prostitution, Keeping a Place of Prostitution
  • Pimping
  • Aggravated Assault
  • Criminal Sexual Abuse
  • Theft
  • Deceptive Practices
  • Impersonating a Police Officer
  • Keeping a Gambling Place
  • Offering a Bribe
  • Resisting or Obstructing a Peace Officer
  • Escape
  • Aiding Escape
  • Harassment of Jurors or Witnesses
  • Simulating Legal Process
  • Advances Prostitution
  • Profits from Prostitution
  • Manufacture or Delivery of Cannabis
  • Delivery of Cannabis on School Grounds
  • Solicitation of a sexual act

New:

  • Public indecency
  • Indecent solicitation of an adult
  • Solicitation to meet a child
  • Domestic battery (all domestic violence convictions prohibit one from carrying a gun)
  • Interfering with the reporting of domestic violence
  • Transmission of obscene messages
  • Harassment by telephone
  • Harassment through electronic communication
  • Evidence interference
  • Any misdemeanor offenses affecting governmental function such as resisting a peace officer or witness tampering.

The following actions could result in an officer’s decertification at a court’s discretion:

  • Committing an act which would constitute an automatic decertification if it were prosecuted as a felony or misdemeanor.
  • Using excessive force in violation of state or federal law.
  • Failing to intervene to prevent harm from occurring including the not knowingly and willingly refusing to render aid when it is reasonable to administer aid and aid is required.
  • Tampering with a dash camera or body-worn camera or directing another for the purpose of concealing, destroying, or altering potential evidence.
  • Committing perjury, making a false statement, or knowingly tampering with or fabricating evidence.
  • Engaging in unprofessional, unethical, deceptive, deleterious conduct, or practices harmful to the public (including any departure from, or failure to conform to, the minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing practice of an officer).
Category: Constituent Resources
  • For very low-income veterans and their families, the Support Services for Veteran Families provides case management and supportive services to prevent the imminent loss of a veteran’s home or identify a new, more suitable housing situation for the individual and his or her family; or to rapidly re-house veterans and their families who are homeless and might remain homeless without this assistance.
  • Veterans Guide assists veterans with the array of issues they may face, including obtaining proper disability compensation, financial assistance, information on the GI bill, and more. To calculate how much your VA rating should be, click here.
  • Caring.com offers a resource guide to Veterans' benefits on their website outlining eligibility, ways to apply for benefits and additional resources.
  • About 30% of annual mesothelioma claims come from veterans. You might have a high risk of asbestos exposure if you served in military occupations from 1930 to 1980. VA benefits are available to veterans with mesothelioma. Learn more about mesothelioma symptoms visit here. There are resources available to veterans through Asbestos including help with filing VA claims, cancer treatment, and other veteran-specific benefits.
Category: Constituent Resources

Food Pantries

Pantry Name Phone Number Pantry Address Hours of Operation Service Area
Atlas Senior Center (312) 745-4401 1767 E 79th Street Bi-Monthly, Wed., 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Cook County
Bryn Mawr Community Foundation* (773) 324-2403 7000 S Jeffery Blvd. Sat., 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 60649, 60619
Carey Temple AME Food Pantry (773) 324-7766 7157 S Greenwood Ave. Wed., 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 69th St. - 79th St., Stoney Island Ave. - Cottage Grove Ave.
Carlene S. Lilly Seed of Hope Food Pantry (773) 846-3700 740 E 77th St. Sat., 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 73rd St. - 83rd St., King Dr. - Stony Island Ave.
Catholic Charities ER Assistance Program (312) 655-7514 721 N LaSalle Dr. Wed. - Fri., 9 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. & 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. 60602, 60604, 60605, 60606, 60607, 60610, 60611, 60654 and 60661
Chicago Lights Elam Davies Social Service Center (312) 640-2571 126 E Chestnut St. By Appointment: Tues. - Thurs., 9:00a.m. - 11:30a.m. 60601, 60602, 60603, 60604, 60606, 60610, 60611, 60654, 60661
Chosen Tabernacle Full Gospel (888) 834-9414 4310 S Champlain Ave. Thurs., 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 35th St. - 47th St., Dan Ryan - Lake Michigan
Christ Bible Church of Chicago (773) 734-2933 7877 S Coles Ave. Sat., 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Cook County
Christ Life Church Chicago (773) 936-1348 8927 S Houston Ave. Sat., 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 60617, 60633
Church of St. Paul and the Redeemer (773) 624-3185 4945 S Dorchester Ave. Wed., 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. 35th St. - 63rd St.; Cottage Grove Ave. - Lake Michigan
Ebenezer MBC Food Pantry (773) 373-6144 4501 S Vincennes Ave. Tues., 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 60653
First Church of Deliverance (773) 655-9314 4317 S Wabash Ave. Mon., 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. 60653, 60615
First Presbyterian: Kimbark PY (773) 363-0505 6400 S Kimbark Ave. Thurs., 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 60637, 60619, 60649
First Worldwide Ministries (919) 908-4140 7945 S Exchange Ave. Thurs., 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Cook County
Gorham Umc (773) 324-8657 5600 S Indiana Ave. Tues., 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 60637
Gospel Way Covenant Church (773) 933-7851 8152 S Saginaw Ave. Thurs., 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. 76th St. - 87th St., Commercial Ave. - Yates Ave.
Grant A Wish, Inc. (773) 454-8352 1136 E 93rd St. Sat., 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 75th St. - 103rd St., State St. - Lake Michigan
Greater Metropolitan M.B. Church (773) 667-6020 5856 S Wabash Ave. Wed., 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 60615, 60619, 60620, 60637
Haven of Rest Missionary Baptist Church (773) 375-4489 7925 S. South Chicago Ave. Wed., 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 75th St. - 95th St., Cottage Grove Ave. - Commercial Ave.
Hyde Park Kenwood (773) 363-6063 5600 S. Woodlawn Ave. Sat., 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 60615
Hyde Park SDA Soup Kitchen* (773) 373-2909 4608 S Drexel Blvd. Wed., 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cook County
Impact Ministry/Christ Bible Church (773) 734-2933 7877 S Coles Ave. Every 3rd Wed., 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Cook County
Inner-City Missions Network (708) 417-6226 7445 S South Chicago Ave. Thurs., 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 60617, 60619, 60637, 60649
Kenwood Oakland Community Organization (773) 548-7500 4242 S Cottage Grove Ave. Mon. - Wed., 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. 60615, 60653
Kenwood UCC Soup Kitchen* (773) 373-2861 4608 S Greenwood Ave. Mon., Tues., Thurs. & Fri., 9:30a.m. - 10:00 a.m. & 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Cook County
King of Glory Tabernacle C.O.G.I.C. (773) 375-3537 2314 E 83rd St. Every 4th Tues., 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Cook County
Kleo Community Family Life (773) 363-6941 119 E Garfield Blvd. Every 1st Wed., 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Cook County
Matthew House Soup Kitchen (773) 536-6628 3722 S Indiana Ave. Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. & 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.; Sat., 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. & 12 p.m. - 1 p.m. Cook County
Messiah/St. Bartholomew (773) 721-3232 8255 S Dante Ave. Fri., 8:00 a.m. -10:00 a.m. 79th St. 90th St., Cottage Grove Ave. - Jeffery Blvd.
Metropolitan Community Outreach (773) 536-2046 4610 S Prairie Ave. Sat., 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. 60653, 60615, 60609
Muhammad University of Islam Pantry (773) 643-0700 7351 S Stony Island Ave. Every 4th Wed., 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Cook County
New Eclipse Community Alliance (773) 538-4957 715 W 51st St. Wed., 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 60609, 60636
New Life Covenant Church Southeast (773) 952-4111 7757 S Greenwood Ave. Thurs., 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 71st St. - 83rd St., State St. - Stony Island Ave.
Parkway Garden Christian Church (773) 956-8723 6600 S Martin Luther King Dr. 2nd and 4th Sat., 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Cook County
Second Faith Temple C.O.G.I.C. (773) 624-0799 424 E 49th St. Fri., 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Cook County
Shepherd's Hope* (773) 351-3336 838 W Marquette Rd. Tues. and Thurs., 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Soup Kitchen: Mon., Wed., Fri., 12 p.m. - 2 p.m. Cook County
Shiloh SDA Dorcas Society (773) 224-7700 7000 S Michigan Ave. Wed., 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Cook County
Southeast Side of Chicago Food Pantry (773) 649-9612 11401 S Green Bay Ave. Wed., 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. 60617, 60633
St. Columbanus (773) 224-1022 331 E 71st St. Wed., 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 60619, 60637
St. Elizabeth Church SVDP (773) 642-6532 40 E 41st St. Thurs., 6:00p.m. - 8:00p.m. 35th St. - 51st St., Dan Ryan - Lake Shore Dr.
St. James Catholic Church (312) 842-1919 2907 S Wabash Ave. Tues. - Thurs., 9:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. 60616, 60605
St. Kevin Food Pantry (773) 721-2563 10509 S Torrence Ave. Every 3rd Wed., 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Cook County
St. Philip Neri Lady of Peace (773) 363-1700 2132 E 72nd St. Tues., 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 67th St. - 83rd St., Stony Island Ave. - South Shore Dr.
Tabernacle MBC Food Pantry (773) 624-6722 4130 S Indiana Ave. 3rd Fri., 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. 60653
Windsor Park Lutheran Church (773) 768-1812 2619 E 76th St. Sat.,10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 60649

Mutual Aids

Mutual Aid Name Phone Number Address Hours of Operation Additional Links
Brave Space Alliance
 
(872) 333-5199 1515 E 52nd Place 1:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. More Information
Bronzeville/Kenwood Mutual Aid
 
(312) 945-6647     Request Aid
Hyde Park Mutual Aid
 
      Request Aid | More Information
UChicago Mutual Aid
 
      More Information
Category: Constituent Resources

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Contact Us

District Office:
1304 East 47th Street, Suite 205
Chicago, IL 60653
(773) 363-1996

Text:
(773) 830-2598

Springfield Office:
124 Capitol Building
Springfield, IL 62706
(217) 782-5338