Bill > SB1217

This bill amends the Rights of Crime Victims and Witnesses Act to enhance notification requirements for crime victims regarding prisoners' release. Specifically, the bill requires the Prisoner Review Board to immediately inform a victim of a prisoner's early release, pardon, commutation, furlough, or sentence credit, but only if the victim has previously requested such notification. The notification must be based on the most recent contact information available to the Board, and if no contact information is available, the Board must make reasonable efforts to obtain and use such information. The bill also mandates that this notification requirement is in addition to any existing statewide victim notification systems, and requires the Board to document its notification efforts if a victim claims they were not properly notified. This applies to both standard prisoner releases and cases where a defendant has been found guilty but mentally ill. The goal is to ensure victims are promptly informed about significant developments in a criminal case, giving them an opportunity to prepare or take necessary precautions when an offender is being released from custody.

Government Affairs

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/BillStatus.asp?DocNum=1217&GAID=18&DocTypeID=SB&SessionID=114&GA=104