CHICAGO – Prison inmates who are required to serve most of their sentences could soon reduce them by successfully completing classes aimed at rehabilitation under a proposal led by Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford  (D-Maywood) that was signed into law today.

“Our criminal justice system is in desperate need of reforms that reduce recidivism and promote rehabilitation,” Lightford said. “This law will incentivize education and prepare inmates to re-enter society.”

Currently, individuals sentenced under truth-in-sentencing provisions, who are required to serve 85 percent or 100 percent of their sentence, are ineligible to receive sentencing credit for successful completion of classes with educational, substance abuse, vocational or re-entry focus.

Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood) hosted her 10th Annual Back to School Event on July 28 at Brookfield Zoo.

Guests received free parking, entry to the zoo, lunch, age-appropriate book bags with school supplies and t-shirts. In honor of the 10th year of the event, guests were also able to attend Brick Safari and the Hamill Family Wild Encounters exhibits free of cost. Additionally, Brookfield Zoo provided Animal Ambassadors that walked through the registration line and had a small exhibit near the vendors with animals that could be touched and interacted with.

Meijer was the premier event sponsor. Additional sponsors were Pepsi, Next Level Health, Stand for Children, Ameren Illinois, Nicor, Peoples Gas, The Roosevelt Group and Madiar Governmental Relations, LLC.

Over 750 guests attended the event and about 60 volunteers, including Meijer staff, the 4th District Committee and non-committee affiliates that assisted with the event.

Guests were hosted at three luncheon times, one of which included a visit from Governor J.B. Pritzker who made remarks, took photos and passed out school supplies to attendees.
Participants also had the opportunity to visit with vendors who provided information, resources, giveaways and screenings.

Below is the list of vendors who were in attendance:

• Black Star Project
• Cook County Health Systems
• Illini Health Care
• Illinois Department of Professional Regulation (Division of Banking- Legislative Services)
• Illinois Department of Public Health (UIC) (Mobile Care Foundation/Agape/ Beyond Care)
• Illinois State Police
• Loyola Hospital
• Merdian Health
• Next Level Health
• Pillars Community Health
• Proviso Lyden Council Community Action (PLCCA)
• Riveredge Hospital
• Senator Kimberly A. Lightford, 4th Senate District Office
• The Answer Inc.
• Traci’s House
• University of Chicago at Chicago Chance Program
• Wellcare

SPRINGFIELD – Children taken into protective custody under suspicion of abuse could soon take part in a forensic interview without parental consent as a result of legislation by Senate Majority Leader Kimberly A. Lightford (D-Maywood).

House Bill 909, signed by the governor on Friday, addresses issues in cases where an abused minor’s parents do not wish for the child to participate in a criminal investigation that may implicate a family member or close friend.

“No one should feel obligated to protect their abuser when participating in a criminal investigation,” Lightford said. “Unfortunately, our children are often put in a position where they do not feel empowered to report their abuser and we’re hoping to bring that to an end.”

A forensic interview is an interview between a trained forensic interviewer and a child in which the interviewer obtains information in an unbiased and fact-finding manner, with the goal of supporting accurate and fair decision-making by caseworkers in the criminal justice and child protection systems.

The measure goes into effect on January 1, 2020.

Chicago Area Fair Housing Alliance (CAFHA) in partnership with project lead, Enterprise Community Partners, is working with several local governments and public housing authorities within Cook County to conduct a Cook County Regional Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH). Through the Community Convener Grant awards, they seek expertise from directly impacted populations regarding ways to: address housing discrimination and segregation; advance affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income households; create equitable opportunities to live, work, and flourish in any community; remedy policies and practices that lock segregation in place and create unjust disparities in life outcomes.

Who Should Apply?

Nonprofit organizations that work directly with one or more of the following populations within Cook County:

• Housing Choice Voucher holders and/or public housing residents
• People with disabilities
• Populations facing housing instability or homelessness
• Individuals living in disinvested areas and racially and ethnically concentrated areas of poverty (R/ECAPs)
• Populations with limited English proficiency
• People with arrest and conviction backgrounds

Community Convener Grant Awards

As part of the community engagement, “Community Convener Grant” awards will total $56,000.00, allowing for up to 8 to 10 awards across Cook County to support the targeted approach. These awards are meant to foster collaboration with and empowerment of key stakeholder groups.​