SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Amid growing controversy over Governor Pritzker’s Prisoner Review Board (PRB), including a recent high-profile tragedy where a young boy was murdered by an offender shortly after being released, State Senator Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) has sponsored legislation aimed at reforming the troubled body.
“The Prisoner Review Board has suffered from repeated issues ever since Governor Pritzker took office,” said Sen. Bryant. “This legislation will help return functionality to the Board and clean up the messes that the Governor created.”
The legislation, House Bill 681, contains numerous reforms for the PRB, including several ideas previously proposed by Senate Republicans. The bill provides protections for victims, including notifications for when prisoners will be up for release, as well as creating a better process for victims to file impact statements.
The legislation also creates new qualification standards for members as well as creating a task force to study issues with the board.
“Under the leadership of the Governor, the PRB and the state as a whole have prioritized offenders over their victims,” continued Sen. Bryant. “Our state still has a long road to go in order to truly correct this mistaken ideology, however, House Bill 681 is an important step in the right direction.”
House Bill 681 passed out of the Senate unanimously, and now heads to the House for further consideration.