HB1064, House Floor Amendment 1 (formerly HB1821): This bill would bring Illinois on par with most states. Currently, 25 states prohibit life without parole for anyone under the age of 18. In six other states, no one is serving these sentences. HB1064 would abolish life without parole for most people under the age of 20 in Illinois. It would build on the Youth Parole Act of 2019, which created the first new parole opportunities in Illinois since the state abolished discretionary parole in 1978. HB1064 would create an opportunity for persons under the age of 21, if convicted of first-degree murder or sentenced to a natural life sentence, to be eligible for parole; Individuals with these specific convictions or convictions did not receive probation under the Juvenile Parole Act. Individuals may apply to the Prisoner Review Board to consider parole upon reaching age 40 or older. The legislation would not be retroactive. This bill passed the house. It is currently pending in the Senate.
HB2989 House Floor Amendment 2,3,4: This would extend the Juvenile Firearms Sentencing Act to persons under the age of 20 at the time of the offence. Right now, the law directs judges to extend the sentences of people over the age of 18 who commit certain crimes involving firearms by 15 years to life imprisonment. Fifteen years are added if a firearm is owned but not shot; 20 years are added if the gun is personally fired without injury; and 25 years are added if there is death or serious personal injury.
What are the chances that an offender will be paroled?
As mentioned in the previous article, the overall rate of suspended sentences last year was 35%. This figure included all offenders who were eligible for probation: serious intent offenders, non-criminal offenders, first time offenders, repeat offenders, probation offenders, etc. As you can see, this number can be misleading at first glance. Let’s take a closer look.
A popular rumor in prison is that felons get out quicker than felons. While it is true that a non-aggravated criminal is eligible before an aggravated criminal, they are no more likely to be automatically released sooner. In addition to the parole policy score, there are other factors that the Board considers when reviewing a case. In general, offenders who stay out of trouble and do not accumulate disciplinary offenses are viewed more favorably. Inmates who participate in educational, vocational, and faith programs show the board that they are making good use of their time. Also, offenders who are well educated, have work experience, and have a strong probation plan are excellent candidates for parole.