Working to improve safety in Illinois
The legislature sent two very important pieces of legislation to the governor's desk. Both bills are designed to improve public safety.
As the sponsor of these bills, I feel their passage is necessary to ensure greater protection and justice for the people of Illinois.
Senate Bill 3269 creates the Sexual Assault Evidence Submission Act. This groundbreaking legislation will make Illinois the first state to require the submission of all sexual assault evidence to the state police for analysis.
A June 2009 report found many law enforcement agencies do not require every rape kit to be tested. In many instances, law enforcement agencies have placed the kits in storage without testing. This lack of process must end.
Senate Bill 3467 builds additional safeguards to the Sexually Violent Persons Commitment Act (SVPA) by allowing local state's attorneys to prevent the release of offenders found to be sexually violent persons and return them to the Department of Corrections for continued treatment and custody.
This bill also prohibits sex offenders from being eligible for meritorious early release and prohibits a sex offender released on parole from residing at the same street address as another registered sex offender.
Every year there are more than 5,000 incidents of criminal sexual assault in Illinois. These numbers are staggering. Sexually violent offenders must be brought to swift and secure justice.
I encourage Gov. Quinn to act swiftly and sign these legislative initiatives. Protecting the citizens of the state of Illinois is our primary responsibility.
State Sen. Michael Bond
District 31
Grayslake