Lake County State’s Attorney Rinehart Supports Reform Bill, But Seeks Important Changes

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Lake County State's Attorneys Office


OFFICE OF THE STATE'S ATTORNEY
LAKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS
ERIC F. RINEHART

STATE'S ATTORNEY

January 9, 2021

For Immediate Release
Contact: Lee Filas
(847) 377-3141 – office
(847) 707-6479 – cell
lfilas@lakecountyil.gov

Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart Supports Reform Bill, But Seeks Important Changes

(Lake County, IL) A direct statement from Lake County State's Attorney Eric F. Rinehart:

House Bill 163 represents important changes to our criminal justice system. I fully support these efforts to make our communities safer and our courthouse fairer. This bill includes reforms that I have been advocating for and discussing for years. But more work needs to be done to ensure these critical reforms also take into account our police officers and survivors of crimes.   

Yesterday, the Illinois State’s Attorney’s Association sent a blanket letter opposing the first version of the omnibus bill. The letter the Association sent does not fully reflect my views and should have been formatted to include individual signatories as opposed to purporting to represent the views of all its members. 

The following reforms are vital to our State. This bill:

  • requires body-worn cameras in every law enforcement agency throughout the State
  • creates a duty to aid on the part of law enforcement officers
  • connects substance abuse treatment programs with First Responder duties
  • creates accountability for officers who knowingly lie in police reports
  • prevents destruction of law enforcement misconduct records
  • strengthens whistle-blower protection for those who report government misconduct
  • increases and improves de-escalation and mental health training for law enforcement
  • expands access to the law enforcement misconduct database
  • maintains felony-murder rule but narrows its application to individuals with violent intent
  • requires police to develop a plan to protect children during search warrant raids
  • empowers the Attorney General to investigate deaths occurring in police custody
  • bans use of chokeholds and other extreme measures
  • establishes statewide use of force standards by 2022

For these reasons, I cannot express blanket opposition or support to HB163. Rather, I will keep working throughout the weekend with legislators and policy advocates to improve the bill and to ensure that it adequately protects victims from their abusers and attackers. It is my sincere hope that we can accomplish these reforms in this legislative session. 

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Lake County State's Attorney's Office 18 N. County Street Waukegan, IL 60085  Phone: (847) 377-3000