SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) – A Republican state representative from Kankakee said Democrats in Springfield are holding up a package of anti-crime legislation prompted by the shooting that killed a Bradley police officer and wounded her partner.
State Rep. Jackie Haas said her package of legislation includes increased penalties for some domestic violence cases and for habitual misdemeanor offenders, noting that the man charged with shooting the officers has been charged with crimes more than 40 times in seven years.
Democrats, she said, are holding it up.
“These bills continue to be stalled and not called for hearing. I can’t even begin to tell you how disappointing that is,” Haas told WBBM Newsradio.
Kankakee County State’s Attorney Jim Rowe said he hopes that changes.
“Let's see who stands with the victims and who stands with the offenders. It’s time to start taking attendance on those matters. The victims of these cases deserve to know who stands with them and who stands against them,” Rowe said.
Related
Also included in the package, doubling the 90-day requirement to take a person to trial that takes effect next year.
“Under the new Safety Reform Act, they’re going to be released after 90 days if they’re not able to be taken to trial. That is ludicrous,” Rowe said.
He said the State Police Crime Lab often takes longer than 90 days to process DNA evidence.
“That law is setting up the perfect storm for defendants to be released back into the community,” he said. “And it’s also setting the perfect storm potentially for people to be wrongfully convicted.”
Related
