National association honors Illinois lawmakers

Associated Press

A national association has honored several Illinois lawmakers for their leadership in criminal justice policy.

The Illinois Association for Criminal Justice recognized Chicago Democrats, U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, Congressman Danny Davis and Illinois state Senators Mattie Hunter and Kwame Raoul (KWAH’-may rah-OOL’) on Sunday.

The group cites their efforts in passing legislation aimed at reducing crime, creating safer communities and decreasing the financial burden of incarceration on taxpayers.

The association praised Durbin for authoring the Fair Sentencing Act, which was signed into law in 2010 and reduces the sentencing disparity in penalties for possession of crack versus powder cocaine.

The group also commended Davis for sponsoring legislation which provides federal seed grants for programs that assist individuals released from prison to successfully reenter society.