Insights & Information

Please join us:

Sunday, March 18, 2012, 3:00 PM
Safer Foundation, 571 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago

IACJ will recognize the work of:

• U.S. Senator Dick Durbin for sponsoring the Fair Sentencing Act, signed into law in 2010 and reduces the sentencing disparity in the mandatory penalties for possession of crack versus powder cocaine. Senator Durbin is unable to attend on March 18 and his award will be presented at a later date.


• U.S. Congressman Danny K. Davis for sponsoring the Second Chance Act, originally signed into law in 2008 and provides federal seed grants for programs that assist individuals released from prison to successfully reenter society


• IL State Senator Mattie Hunter for leading the Illinois Disproportionate Justice Impact Study Commission, which addresses racial disparities in justice system’s response to drug crimes


• IL State Senator Kwame Raoul for sponsoring the Illinois Crime Reduction Act, which invests in community-based solutions to nonviolent, drug-related crime

With corrections reform at the top of state and federal policy agendas, this is an opportunity to recognize legislators whose leadership has been, and continues to be, instrumental in improving policy.

RSVP: To confirm your attendance, please send an email with your name, title, and organization/affiliation to Jon.Kaplan@SaferFoundation.org.

We look forward to seeing you on March 18!

Join in a discussion with Ethan Nadelmann, founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance (DPA), on envisioning America without a "War on Drugs." DPA advocates drug policies that are grounded in science, compassion, health, and human rights. Given that more than $1 billion has been spent on America’s war on drugs since its inception in 1971, the event will consider what public policies would look like if the war on drugs ended tomorrow; what sorts of opportunities there would be for increased treatment, drug education, and harm reduction activities; what the U.S. could do with the money that is now spent on the war on drugs; and how much money is currently spent on pursuing these often devastatingly harmful policies under the pursuit of the drug war. The event is provided for free by Roosevelt University’s Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy and Students for Sensible Drug Policy (Roosevelt University Chapter). For more information, click here.

February 7, 2012
4:30PM - 6:00PM
Roosevelt University
Congress Lounge (2nd Floor)
RSVP kkane@roosevelt.edu

Passage of the federal Fair Sentencing Act in August 2010 reduced the 100-to-1 sentencing disparity for crack cocaine offenses and eliminated the five-year mandatory minimum for simple possession of crack cocaine, reforming a law that caused racial disparity. The reform is part of a larger movement to reconsider long mandatory minimum sentences for low-level drug offenses that pervade sentencing policy in the U.S. A new report by Kara Gotsch, director of advocacy at The Sentencing Project, outlines efforts culminating with the passage of the Fair Sentencing Act and points to the unfinished sentencing reform agenda. The report highlights the importance of the reform internationally, given the U.S. role of prominence in reducing substance abuse. To read the report, click here.

On October 27, 2011, The Emergency Services Access Act (SB 1701) passed the Illinois House of Representatives by a 61-53 vote. The bill would provide limited immunity for those who possess small amounts of drugs if they call 911 or seek medical help in an overdose situation, which could potentially save many lives in Illinois. This news comes as other states, such as New York, have recently enacted similar laws. To read more of this Naperville Sun News article, click here.

Of major concern to many Americans, youth drug use has undergone significant increases after a decade of decline, due in part to decreases in perceptions of harm and increases in availability. Meanwhile, funding for explicit drug prevention has been cut, despite evidence that effective drug prevention can lead to reductions in use. The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) has circulated a petition to ensure drug prevention is on the White House’s We the People website, which provides a forum for petitions. Of the drug-related petitions on the site, 12 are currently in support of marijuana legalization and decriminalization, yet no other petitions currently support drug prevention. Twenty-five-thousand signatures are needed by November 4, and all individuals older than 13 are eligible to sign the petition. Click here to sign the petition.

On October 5, 2011, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan discussed two initiatives intended to slow the increase in new methamphetamine production methods that make it more difficult to detect. Long committed to stopping meth use and production in Illinois, Madigan has advocated tough laws cracking down on the sale of pseudoephedrine (the key meth ingredient) and strengthened penalties for those convicted of meth-related offenses. Madigan plans to work with State Senator William Haine and Representative Jerry Costello II in the legislature's upcoming veto session to extend the program that allows pharmacies to block illegal sales of pseudoephedrine. Madigan also made public an awareness campaign targeting people who buy pills for meth cooks. To read more of this Times Record article, click here.

A $200,000 federal grant will allow Will County Drug Court, which provides drug addiction resources and treatment for people with non-violent offenses, to increase the number of program participants dealing with heroin addiction. As part of the Drug Court program, successful participants of this program have their charges dropped. Will County officials report that 32 percent of drug court clients reported heroin as their primary addiction and 26 deaths from heroin overdose in 2010 (21 so far in 2011). The grant money will allow the Drug Court to expand drug testing and monitoring as well as provide resources (e.g. education, recovery support, relapse prevention, nutrition, vocational testing, job skills and parenting skills). To read more of the TribLocal article by Mary Owen, click here.

New York state has passed a new "911 Good Samaritan Law" designed to prevent deaths from alcohol and drug overdoses. The legislation encourages people to report drug or alcohol overdoses without fear of being charged with possession of small amounts of drugs. The bill was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo in July and has been in effect since September 18, making New York the fourth state to have such a law. For more info, click here.

Representative La Shawn Ford invites participation in a public meeting on drug policy reform to reduce penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana, instead using fines to fund treatment programs.

September 29, 2011
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Oak Park Village Hall, Council Chamber Room
123 Madison St
Oak Park, Illinois

For more info, click here.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) announced August 15 that the U.S. Dept. of Justice (DOJ) has awarded $9,593,477 in Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants to support Illinois law enforcement officers. Byrne grants are awarded to states and units of local government to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime and to improve the justice system. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) was awarded $9,517,027 for multi-jurisdictional drug prosecution programs, expanding multi-jurisdictional narcotics units and the local law enforcement equipment program. The City of Moline was awarded $76,450 to provide increased officer presence and law enforcement services by purchasing and installing law enforcement equipment and retaining law enforcement personnel. For more information, click here.