Springfield - Crime survivors will soon have a new voice in public safety policy making thanks to the efforts of State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago).

“I fundamentally believe that public safety must belong to the people,” Peters said. “This measure will center crime survivors and put them at the center of the conversation without fear of repercussion.”

House Bill 4736, which would help invest in community-centered public safety by  creating a Crime Reduction Task Force to develop and propose ways to reduce crime across the state. The Crime Reduction Task Force would be made up of a bipartisan group of senators and representatives, alongside law enforcement, advocates, legal and criminal justice professionals and survivors. The measure would also establish a co-responder pilot program.

 The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority would also establish a grant program open to organizations and units of local government to assist in the creation of anonymous tip hotlines or other systems to crime victims and witnesses. Additionally, this measure makes improvements to the state’s existing witness protection, which requires the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority to create a program to assist victims and witnesses who are actively aiding in the prosecution of perpetrators of certain crimes.

“Everyone in every zip code should feel comfortable being able to walk down the street,” Peters said. “No matter where you are, or who you are or where you live you should deserve to feel comfortable and safe. This measure does that by expanding witness protection and by incorporating the voices and needs of stakeholders and survivors.”

The measure passed the Senate on Thursday.

Springfield - A measure to help medical professionals get more tests into the hands of individuals who battle opioid addiction cleared the General Assembly thanks to State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago). 

“This measure will help save lives,” Peters said. “We still have a long way to go, but removing these penalties is a responsible way to address the opioid crisis and to create real public safety for all instead of continuing the misguided policies of the past.” 

House Bill 4556 is designed to expand on a 2019 law, the Overdose Prevention and Harm Reduction Act, which authorized government agencies and non-governmental organizations to create needle and hypodermic syringe exchange programs.  This measure would increase the number of persons and professions in the medical community who would not be penalized for possessing a limited residual amount of a controlled substance as part of the drug testing process. 

Additionally, the supplies would be required to be stored at a medical office with limited access and would be available to designated workers such as an advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant.  

“We need to ensure that all communities in our state are protected and that they know what is going into their body,” Peters said, “I’m glad that the General Assembly is taking this important step to make sure that people will not be left to the wolves of the fentanyl overdose crisis.” 

The measure passed the Senate on Thursday.

Springfield -  The historic vote to confirm the Honorable Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court will bring one of the most able and qualified jurists to the nation’s highest court. State Senator Robert Peters (D-Chicago), the Senate chair of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus, released the following statement:

“Justice Brown Jackson is one of the most, if not the most, qualified jurist to be appointed to our nation’s highest court. She is a symbol of hope and progress for our nation and will be an advocate for equal justice under the law.”

“This is a historic appointment and I am overwhelmed with gratitude knowing that Black girls throughout Illinois and the nation will have a role model to know that they too can aspire to our nation’s high court and beyond.”