This week, a Chicago Democrat presented legislation in the Illinois House that would offer those under age 20 who were convicted to petition the court for their sentence to be reviewed.
The representative introduced bill HB 3332 as a "fair, cost-effective, age-appropriate way to ensure children and young adults are held accountable for the harm they have caused while offering them an opportunity to redeem themselves."
State Representative Patrick Windhorst from Massac County spoke against the measure, arguing that the majority of these candidates are individuals in prison for serious offenses like murder or sexual assault.
He argued that the legislation would be a setback for the current state criminal justice system.
"We've had a youth offender parole program in the past that was essentially forward-looking. It allowed those individuals eligible under that program to apply for parole under the PRB and be determined if they received it. This current legislation will be retroactive.
Windhorst argues that many of the individuals who would qualify for the program are a threat to the well-being of victims.
"We need to give them finality in the criminal justice system. They should not have to come back to court to relive the loss suffered, either being the victim of a crime or a family member of a victim. There needs to be finality, and we should not be reducing sentences for murderers and those guilty of criminal sexual assault."
Although the bill did not receive enough votes for passage in the Illinois House, it was put on "postponed consideration," if the needed votes are found.
