SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — House and Senate Democrats are unveiling a plan to reduce crime in Illinois.
Rep. Jehan Gordon-Booth of Peoria says the proposal takes a broad, community-based approach, as opposed to just being tough on crime.
She lost her son in 2014 to gun violence and noted the importance of making it easier for witnesses to come forward.
“One of the pieces that gets left out of that conversation, is what does that individual have to go through in order to be witness to a homicide. They have not only be willing to go to the police, share that information, they also have to be willing to be a part of a prosecution,” Booth said.
House Bill 4736 expands victim and witness services and creates a grant program to set up tip lines where people can come forward anonymously.
It also funds local efforts such as after school programs and early childhood learning.
Senator Robert Peters of Chicago says mirror legislation in the Illinois Senate supports a crime reduction task force and anonymous tip lines.
“That will help give people a safe place to report on a crime without fear of repercussion. This is too often a concern expressed by witnesses and residents who see something tragic happen and don’t feel comfortable talking to police or any community leader about it,” Peters said.
Other measures fund map grants, as well as a violent crime witness protection program.
Comments