Will County Gazette

House Minority Leader Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Burr Ridge) wants to put an end to what he sees as Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s abuse of state crime victims.

“Governor Pritzker’s Prisoner Review Board has created more pain and torment for crime victims by releasing violent offenders back into society over the objections of the victims, their families, law enforcement, and judges,” Pritzker posted on Facebook in introducing legislation to “revamp” the Illinois Prisoner Review Board. “It’s time to put victims’ rights first in Illinois.”

House Bill 5126 seeks to enact tougher standards for violent offenders seeking to be released from prison. The bill would also require that just under half of the 12 individuals on the Prisoner Review Board have police officer or prosecutor experience, along with establishing that at least two-thirds of the board be required to vote in favor of parole for a person convicted of first-degree murder to be released in the state. Another bill seeks to make the governor’s parole case decisions open to the public.

Durkin argues such legislation is needed after a cop killer, a murderer-rapist and a child killer were all recently released from prison.

“Doesn’t that victim or the family member have any say? Shouldn’t they be afforded greater weight in a parole decision,” he asked. “Each one of these former inmates have one thing in common: They are cold-blooded killers who should have never lived a free day after their conviction and sentence. The administration is placing criminals above victims and they are trying to silence the voices of victims across the state.”

The Illinois Prisoner Review Board (PRB) is a separate entity from the Illinois Department of Corrections. The PRB is an independent body whose members are appointed by the governor. The PRB imposes release conditions for offenders exiting penal facilities, revokes and restores good conduct credits from inmates, conducts hearings to determine whether parolees have violated conditions of parole, and awards certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct. The board also makes confidential recommendations to the governor relative to executive clemency petitions.