(The Center Square) – Beginning Jan. 1, offenders who go through the Adult Redeploy Illinois program will now be called “justice impacted individuals.”
House Bill 4409 sparked spirited debate when it passed last spring. On the Senate floor, state Sen. Steve McClure, R-Springfield, said bills like this take away all accountability for people who commit crimes.
“This apologizing for the criminal, the person who chooses to commit crimes to the detriment of our victims, the people who don’t choose to be victims of crimes, is absolutely incredible. Crime is up 38% year-to-date since 2019. Crime is up everywhere,” McClure said during spring session.
The measure also expands representation within the ARI Oversight Board by adding a representative from the Department of Corrections, Illinois Department of Human Services, Sangamon and Cook County Adult Probation, and two members who have experienced the ARI system as offenders.
State Sen. Robert Peters, D-Chicago, sponsored the bill.
“ARI is performance incentive funding. It’s generally cost-effective and is a form of justice reinvestment. This is good public safety policy. I know we’re getting hung up on a term, but I don’t want to lose sight of the fact that we’re adding the Department of Corrections to this bill.
“We’re trying to make sure that everybody has an involvement in this program,” said Peters.
The ARI program, through community services as an alternative to prison, aims to reduce crime and recidivism at a lower cost to taxpayers.
On social media after the vote in the Senate, state Sen. Dave Syverson, R-Cherry Valley, criticized the bill but said it wasn’t surprising Democrats introduced the measure.
“I guess in the you’ll-not-be-surprised category: the same Democrats that passed the no cash bail for criminals just passed legislation that says law enforcement and official records can no longer refer to those who commit crimes as criminals or offenders. We must now refer to them as justice-impacted individuals. Can’t make that up,” said Syverson, appearing in a Facebook video.
In the spring of 2024, nonprofit Project H.O.O.D. CEO Corey Brooks criticized Illinois Democrats for renaming criminal offenders “justice impacted individuals.”
“Once again our Illinois politicians believe they have the magic that will cure the crime that riddles our city of Chicago,” Brooks said, appearing on Fox News Digital. “With the magic of rewording, we will no longer have offenders or criminals. Instead we will have ‘justice-impacted individuals.’ The implication could not be clearer, rather than being seen as criminals who victimize society, they’re going to be seen as victims of the system.”
Brooks is a pastor and through H.O.O.D aims to “provide education, mentorship and community development to break the cycle of poverty and create a brighter future for Chicagoans.”
